An expert insight into translating Russian literature today How does a translator begin and end a novel with panache, and still retain the gripping effect of the original opening sentences, the surprise and suspense as the plot unfolds, and the full impact of a powerful ending? Are there any specifi
Discover contemporary Russian fiction with Boris Akunin, Alisa Ganieva, Andrey Kurkov and Zinovy Zinik. Our love of the Russian classics means we often overlook the wealth of contemporary fiction available in English, from crime to science fiction, from all parts of the Russian-speaking world. Autho
‘Oh, the smell is awful!’ Peirene groans as we step out of the taxi that has brought us to Shatila, the Syrian and Palestinian refugee camp in the south of Beirut. Peirene, Suhir – our Syrian editor – and I arrived in Beirut last night. We are staying here for a week to give a […]
Stealing Away from Time Those with abundant reading material for professional reasons know the sense of fatigue and occasional slight disappointment along with endless disappointment when a book doesn’t satisfy raised expectations, and several days later one has forgotten its contents. For those w
An introduction to our special ELNet UK-CROATIAN ‘Literary Goodie-Bag’ from the 2017 LITLINK FESTIVAL in CROATIA A year after the (disastrous, misguided, heartbreaking) UK Referendum decision on Brexit, it’s time for some good news. It’s very easy to be positive about Europe here in Croatia,
In March, my husband gets up at five in the morning. He brushes his teeth, washes his face, puts on a pair of jeans, a hoodie, a brown corduroy jacket and a pair of trainers, kisses me and takes the bus to a nearby island. At the beginning of his forty-minute ride, he bids his […]
