Friday 17 June 2016, 7pm, Free Word Centre
Reading Europe Tour presents the Cultural Case for Europe in London and Manchester commencing with an event at the Free Word Centre on Friday evening featuring Belgian author, Dimitri Verhulst, Italian author Diego Marani and Danish author Kirsten Thorup.
First covered by The Guardian at Easter, the Reading Europe Tour showcases EU literary fiction in translation produced by 16 independent publishers in the UK. Eric Lane of independent publisher Dedalus says that the books of the list were chosen, “with the main criterion that they tell you something new or informative about an EU country”.
The Reading Europe list of recommended reading has attracted more interest outside the UK than inside, despite its provocative timing the weekend before the EU Referendum. So much so, that Belgian author, Dimitri Verhulst will be accompanied by a TV crew to recording Friday evening’s event. The literary supplements in all EU countries have featured the Reading Europe list for some time offering evidence of a British cultural response to the mud slinging which has characterised both the “Leave” and the “Remain” campaigns.