World Literature Weekend

The London Review is hosting its third annual festival for foreign writers and books from around the world, how exciting! The theme this year is history and its traces on the present. The weekend includes workshops on how to translate from several different languages- which look amazing but quite pricey. Other events include talks from authors and publishers, the independent Foreign Fiction prize, and two social evenings (think singer-songwriters and cake, rather than the local band and gravy). Its on from the 17th to the 19th of June and you can get your tickets here. It takes place in various locations in London, the nearest tube station is Russell Square. I've got my eye on the Scandinavian crime talk and the 'literary Kaffeeklatsch'. Possibly because 'Kaffeeklatsch' is one of the best words I've heard in a long time. It means an informal social gathering with coffee and conversation. While I haven't read much 'world' literature (mainly due to my less-than-fluent second language skills), I am really interested in translation and how it affects writing, shaping and presenting ideas in a slightly different way.

Anyone else going to the festival?