Did Russia’s Spotlight at the London Book Fair Generate Business for You?

By Edward Nawotka

Russia is taking several star turns at book fairs as “guest of honor” — first in London earlier this month and next year at BookExpo America. The country’s literary reputation overseas is largely based on classic texts and a handful of translated authors who have broken through — Boris Akunin, Viktor Pelevin, Tatyana Tolstaya, Lyudmila Petrushevskaya, and Lyudmila Ulitskaya — to name only a few. There are dozens more potentially suitable for translation. In addition, the country has a large and productive publishing industry that offers opportunities for foreign publishers and a burgeoning digital scene.

Our feature story today profiles the career and writing of Vladimir Sorokin, a “living classic” in Russia and one of the latest Russian authors to reach the USA in translation.

So, tell us, did Russia’s appearance as “guest of honor” at the LBF entice you enough to strike a new contract for translation or a business relationship? Or do you have plans to do so in the future? Let us know in the comments and tell us about your most exciting discovery from the Russian literary scene.