Romania’s 14th participation at the London Book Fair celebrates generations of astonishing writers, who offer strong, original voices and well-crafted language through their awarded books. 35 years since the Romanian Revolution, we celebrate freedom in all its creative forms, with a focus on Romania's literary scene.
Join us for a rich programme that unfolds at our stand at Olympia Exhibition Centre as well as at the Romanian Cultural Institute, Barbican Library and Conway Hall. Four packed days of book launches, dialogues and spoken word performances that will to give you a flavour of our effervescent contemporary literature.
Our brilliant guests are writers, poets and academics: Mădălina Căuneac, Liliana Corobca, Hannah Dawson, Paula Erizanu, Suzannah Lipscomb, Cosmin Perța, Florentin Popa, Alina Purcaru, Maria Stadnicka, Matei Vișniec, Elena Vlădăreanu. Authors, journalists and critics Marius Chivu and Bogdan Crețuș editors Eli Bădică, Alex Ciorgar, Susan Curtis and Manol Peykov; video artist Iulian Morar; as well as translator Gabi Reigh, and cultural manager Milena Deleva complete our line-up.
The Romanian participation at the LBF 2024 is organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute's National Book Centre and the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, with the support of the Romanian Embassy, Conway Hall, Barbican Library and the Romanian Publishers Association. The project is funded by the Romanian Cultural Institute.
MONDAY, 11 MARCH
7 pm / Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, SW1X8PH
https://www.rcilondon.co.uk/event-details/voices-of-freedom-romania-at-the-london-book-fair
The Female Gaze: Women and Writing
We kick off Romania’s participation at this edition of the London Book Fair with an event dedicated to women's writing and focused on British and Romanian authors. Our distinguished guests are Hannah Dawson, specialised in the history of ideas and Professor at King's College London, editor of The Penguin Book of Feminist Writing and Suzannah Lipscomb, historian, writer, TV personality). They will be joined by Alina Purcaru poetess and translator, alongside Paula Erizanu, of the three-volume anthology Un secol de poezie română scrisă de femei / A Century of Romanian Poetry Written by Women. We will also welcome Elena Vlădăreanu, poetess and coordinator of “Sofia Nădejde” Prize, awarded to contemporary Romanian female writers. The evening will be hosted by writer, editor and cultural journalist Paula Erizanu. Followed by a vin d’honneur.
TUESDAY, 12 MARCH
1 pm / Stand 6B10/ Olympia Exhibition Centre, Hammersmith Road
The Opening of the Romanian Stand at the London Book Fair 2024
The opening event at Romania’s stand at Olympia Exhibition Centre brings together Romanian and British authors, publishers and other professionals from both sides of the English Channel. Opening remarks will be given by HE Mrs Laura Popescu, the Romanian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Aura Woodward, Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London and Dana Ionescu, Director of the National Book Centre. Followed by a vin d’honneur.
The stand was designed by Romanian graphic artist Dan Serbănescu.
TUESDAY, 12 MARCH
7 pm / Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, SW1X8PH
https://www.rcilondon.co.uk/event-details/voices-of-freedom-romania-at-the-london-book-fair-1
Wor(l)ds without Borders
As part of Romania’s 14th participation at the London Book Fair, we are proud to present some recent translations from Romanian into English. The selection includes:
· Matei Vișniec’s Dinner with Marx translated by Adam J. Sorkin & Lidia Vianu (New Meridian Arts, 2023);
· Max Blecher’s Transparent Body & Other Texts transalted by Gabi Reigh (Twisted Spoon Press, 2024);
· Emilian Galaicu Păun’s Canting Arms translated by Adam J. Sorkin together with Diana Manole, Lidia Vianu, Claudia Serea, Rareșa Galaicu, Cristina Cîrstea Danilov and Ștefania Hirtopanu (Deep Vellum, 2024);
· Liliana Corobca’s Kinderland translated by Monica Cure (Seven Stories Press, 2023);
· Norman Manea’s Exiled Shadowtranslated by Carla Baricz (Yale University Press, 2023).
Writer and journalist Marius Chivu will moderatean engaging conversation with writer and researcher Liliana Corobca, writer and critic Bogdan Crețu, transaltor Gabi Reigh and playwrite, poet and journalist Matei Vișniec.
WEDNESDAY, 13 MARCH
7.30 pm / Conway Hall Library, 25 Red Lion St, WC1R 4RL
https://www.rcilondon.co.uk/event-details/voices-of-freedom-romania-at-the-london-book-fair-2
Turning the lens onCentral and Eastern Europe Literature
We continue our journey into the world of literature prompted by Romania’s participation at the London Book Fair 2024 with an event dedicated to the literary world of Central and Eastern Europe. The event is organised in partnership with the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in London and brings together editor Susan Curtis of Istros Books; writer, editor and journalist Maria Stadnicka; writer and critic Bogdan Crețu, editor Manol Peykov of Janet 45 Print and Publishing and founder of Sofia Literary Agency and cultural manager Milena Deleva, President of Elizabeth Kostova Foundation/Open Letter Books. The evening will be hosted by writer, editor and cultural journalist Paula Erizanu.
THURSDAY, 14 MARCH
6.00 pm / Barbican Library Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
https://www.rcilondon.co.uk/event-details/voices-of-freedom-romania-at-the-london-book-fair-3
SWORDS Showcase - Hypnotic Spoken Words from Romania
Our series of events organised in connection with Romania’s participation at the London Book Fair 2024 concludes with SWORDS. This is a vivid Bucharest spoken word initiative, curated by Cosmin Perța and Iulian Morar. The event brings together musicians, poets, actors, multimedia artists and performers, in spoken word sessions. At the Barbican Library, Cosmin Perța and Iulian Morar will present Love & War, accompanied by performances by Elena Vlădăreanu, Florentin Popa and Mădălina Căuneac.
“Spoken word is (not) poetry. Spoken word is (not) theatre. Spoken word is (not) music. Spoken word is sound, image and message. Spoken word is vibration. It's communion. It's symbiosis, it's drama and comedy, it's monologue and it's dialogue. Spoken word is emotion. It's earworm. It's performance. It's symmetry. It's rhyme and rhythm. Spoken word is not political and it is not politics. It's social justice and anxiety. It's mindfulness and self-exploration. It's the voice that stays with you when you are alone in the room. “
(Cosmin Perța)
