2014 is the Russia-UK Year of Culture. Those of you who live in the UK or visit the country as tourists have the opportunity to attend multiple Russian cultural events : opera, theatre productions, art exhibitions and, of course, literary events. You can find all the information about this on the official website.
Now the biggest literary event that will showcase modern Russian books this year is London Book Fair, which will take place at the Earls Court Exhibition centre next week, on the 8-10 of April.
This year I’m helping out at the ReadRussia stand (Y405,Y425,Y455, EC2). I’ll be there all three days, especially before afternoon. Please come along and say hello. I will be happily obliged to answer your questions about Russia literature and all the new books and authors introduced at the stand.
Morever, I’ll be launching my new book, a literary techno-thriller called Made in Bionia. Come along and receive a Bionian fridge magnet and a book card from me.
Occasionally, I’ll go to the AuthorHQ hub for some seriously good seminars for authors and anyone interested in writing and the publishing industry. If you are attending LBF this year, don’t forget that there will be a FREE photo shoot at AuthorHQ, book your slot.
Back to ReadRussia. This year’s programme is featuring a great diversity of modern Russian authors – Zakhar Prilepin, German Sadulaev, Pavel Basinsky, Dmitry Bykov, Eugene Vodolazkin and Alexander Terekhov to name some of them.
Tuesday will kick off with an announcement of 2014 Translation Prize. There will be discussions on the literary institutions in modern day Russia and also the biggest Russian literary award, The Big Book Prize, will be introduced.
On Wednesday, a presentation will be given about St Petersburg International Literary Salon and the new gems of Slavic literature published by Glagoslav. There will also be a seminar about Russian YA books and talks focusing on translating modern books and Russian poetry.
Finally, Thursday will be highlighted by a presentation of the Anthology of Russian Poetry by Evgeny Evtushenko and an exciting talk about the future of Russian literature. Haute Culture Books will launch the first English translation of Yuri Mamleev’s novel The Sublimes. Of course, there will be many more events in the programme, which may interest you. Come along and meet contemporary Russian authors, including me, in person.
Also, apart from the LBF, ReadRussia has organised a literary showcase taking place in various London locations, 7-11 April 2014. Take a look at the programme.
I’m looking forward to see many of you at the LBF next week. Till then, bye!