Read Russia: Building Cultural Bridges through Literature

LONDON, ENGLAND, March 20, 2014 (Press-News.org) We are delighted to bring classic and modern Russian authors to a British audience to strengthen the cultural bond between our two countries. There is no better opportunity than through literature to facilitate this continuing appreciation of classic and modern Russian culture.

'Read Russia celebrates the wonderfully diverse cultural heritage of both of our countries. Through partnerships like these, we can encourage long-term cooperation and understanding of our centuries-old societies. Literature offers an unparalleled way to share our cultural heritage ', says Vladimir Grigoriev, Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications.

Read Russia will host a variety of events, panels and presentations across London and at the book fair with participation from some of the biggest names in Russian literature, translation and publishing. We look forward to maintaining the reputation of Read Russia as the foremost organisation promoting Russian literature internationally.

Some of the most respected and influential authors in contemporary Russian literature will be speaking at this year's London Book Fair. Among them are award-winning authors Zakhar Prilepin, Alexander Terekhov and Pavel Basinsky who, this year, have highly-anticipated books planned for publication in English.

This year will also see the presentation of Russia's biggest literary award, the Big Book Prize, and the Read Russia English Translation Prize. These awards are two of the most prestigious awards in Russian literature and we look forward to building these bridges - and more momentum for the years ahead.

For full listings, press accreditation, interview opportunities with authors and high-resolution images, please visit http://www.readrussia.org/London2014 or contact:

Daniel Cinna | t: +44 (0)20 7399 2437 | e: daniel@curzonpr.com | w: curzonpr.com

Notes for Editors:

Read Russia

Read Russia (www.readrussia.org), founded in 2012, is a new initiative based in Moscow, New York, and London to celebrate Russian literature and Russian culture. Through innovative programmes, projects, and events supporting the translation and publication of Russian works, Read Russia provides international audiences with fresh opportunities to engage - in person, on screen, and online - with Russia's literary leaders and heritage. Read Russia will have a stand at London Book Fair 2014 from 8 to 10 April 2014.

London Book Fair

The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. Now in its 43rd year, it returns to Earls Court from 8-10 April 2014.

UK-Russia Year of Culture 2014

The British Council and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that 2014 will see the biggest ever programme of UK cultural projects take place across Russia and an unprecedented showcase of Russian culture in the United Kingdom.

The UK-Russia Year of Culture 2014 celebrates the rich and diverse cultural heritage of both countries. It aims to foster cultural exchange and the flow of ideas whilst developing stronger relations between people, institutions and governments. The scale of the programme across arts, education, language and science is indicative of a huge improvement in cultural relations.

Curzon PR

Curzon PR is a strategic public relations and digital communications agency. We work across arts, culture, business and policy in growth markets. Our cross-sector approach transcends geographies and cultures, ensuring clients benefit from strategic insight and an international network across art, business, media and politics. Clients have included Maslenitsa: Russian Festival in London, South Korean Brand Entertainment Expo, the Ukraine Biennale of Contemporary Art and Oscar-winning surgeon Mohammad Jawad. For more information, visit http://www.curzonpr.com