The 13th annual New Literature from Europe Festival kicks off this week in New York City, running from Dec 7 – 10 and featuring leading European authors, translators, editors for a varied program of events. The recently published Memoirs of a Polar Bear will be presented by its writer and translator (from the German) respectively […]
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Ladislav Fuks in B O D Y
“The German Casino in Růžová Street, to which Mr. Kopfrkingl had dragged himself with his leg behind him and his body bent forward, had a white marble-covered entrance with three steps. ‘I love white marble-covered entrances with three steps,’ thought Mr. Kopfrkingl and slowly crossed the street to the pavement opposite…” From The Cremator by […]
Jean Lorrain in B O D Y
“Amsterdam, it is always water and houses painted black and white, all windows, with sculpted gables and lace curtains; the black, the white splinter in the water. And so it is always water, dead water, iridescent water and gray water, alleys of water that do not end, canals guarded by dwellings like enormous dominos…” The […]
Kafka’s Konundrum
A new selection of some of Kafka’s short prose is being published by Archipelago in a translation by Peter Wortsman. Titled Konundrum: Selected Prose of Franz Kafka, the book comprises stories, journals and letters, as well as including “The Transformation”, more commonly known as “The Metamorphosis”. The book is coming out Oct 18. On Oct […]
Ursula Kovalyk in the UK
On Thurs Oct 6 there will be a launch of The Equestrienne by Uršuľa Kovalyk, translated from the Slovak by Julia and Peter Sherwood. The event will take place at Waterstones Piccadilly. The Equestrienne is the first novel by the Košice-born writer published in English after having a handful of short stories published online and […]
Alexandra Berkova in B O D Y
“…and he coughs decorously and goes off decorously to his study. Where he decorously. Straightens. Some papers. Slowly. Carefully. Tap-ping them. To cut off the edges. It’s very important now. To the millimeter exactly. At the edge of the table. And we’re each of us alone again… Ah, yes: childhood! Land of terror…” From Alexandra […]
‘The Absolute Gravedigger’ by Vítezslav Nezval
On Sept 29 there will be a book launch for The Absolute Gravedigger by Vítězslav Nezval, translated into English by Stephan Delbos and Tereza Novická and published by Twisted Spoon Press. The great Czech poet published the book in 1937 and is considered one of the masterpieces of interwar surrealism. Novická and Delbos received a […]
Interview with Guzel Yakhina
In 2015 a new and far from typical star arrived on the Russian literary scene. Guzel Yakhina won multiple literary prizes for her debut novel Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes, including the Big Book Award and the Yasnaya Polyana Literary Prize. Yakhina was born in Kazan, Tatarstan (a semi-autonomous Russian republic) and her novel tells the […]
Mirka Szychowiak in B O D Y
“Come, precious ones, let’s cry together before I go. I will be back with you as soon as I can. No, I won’t stay; they don’t want me here anymore. Władzia, dear, keep the peace, won’t you? Don’t let anybody hit Zosia. And please don’t fight amongst yourselves. I will miss you too…” From the […]
Moscow International Book Fair
The 29th International Moscow International Book Fair (MIBF) took place last week from Sept 7-11 and Literalab was there, meeting with authors, publishers, booksellers and other assorted book people. Recently installed head of the fair, Sergey Kaykin, said that attempts have been made to make the fair more dynamic to combat lowering attendance. He also […]
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