Russia at the 2011 London Book Fair

Russia is this year's market focus at the London Book Fair (April 11-13, 2011).  More than 50 Russian writers will attend the fair and "the associated cultural programme will place a spotlight on contemporary Russian authors and Russia as an important publishing arena."  The program is rich indeed, with readings, presentations, and seminars.  Seminar topics include "an overview of the Russian market," "what's new about new Russian writing?," and a panel on "children's literature in Russia."

The Children's Literature seminar will take place on April 12 and will be hosted by Julia Eccleshare (Children's Book Editor for the Guardian). Russian children's writers will speak at the event, including:

• Tatiana Bobkova
• Marina Boroditskaya
• Anna Starobinets
• Olga Maeots
• Andrei Usachev

Other attendees, to quote from booktrade.info, include, "Mikhail Shishkin, Alexander Illichevsky, Ludmila Ulitskaya, Olga Slavnikova, Dmitry Bykov, Andrei Bitov, Zakhar Prilepin, Dina Rubina, Polina Dashkova, German Sadulaev, Sergey Lukyanenko, Alexander Skidan, and Vladimir Makanin."

Academia Rossica is running a corresponding program at which Usachev will speak on "The World of Children's Literature" on Sunday, April 9.