Arabic Poetry Today

Abu Dhabi Book Fair
6pm, 23rd March
Poetry Forum, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Grounds

At this year's Abu Dhabi Book Fair, LAF brings you readings and discussions on the translation of poetry with four key writers from the Arab world: Samer Abu Hawwash (Lebanon), Khalid al-Maaly (Iraq / Germany), Khulood al-Muaala (United Emirates) and Youssef Rakha (Egypt).

Abu Dhabi Book Fair

17th – 22nd March
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Grounds
Stand 9D01

Over the past three years, LAF has established contacts outside Europe in order to facilitate literary exchange and mutual promotion of literature between the countries of its European partners and countries in the region of the Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East. This will be LAF’s fourth visit to the Abu Dhabi Book Fair where we will meet with Arab publishers and promote the translation subsidies offered by our partners from fifteen European countries.

Anna Lindh Foundation Forum 2010

5th - 7th March, Barcelona

The Anna Lindh Forum is a major civil society gathering for the promotion of intercultural action across the Mediterranean region. Literature Across Frontiers will be participating in the forum and contributing to the organisation of an event on translation in the Euro-Mediterranean cultural space. Visit the Anna Lindh Forum pages here.

LAF network meeting

Bratislava, Slovakia
25th - 27th  February 2010

The LAF network of partners will hold its annual general meeting in Bratislava this year. The meeting is hosted by the Slovak Centre for Information on Literature (Literárne Centrum) www.litcentrum.sk.

Yang Lian at FRA in Prague

23 February 2010,
7:30pm,
FRA Cafe and Bookshop, Šafaříkova 25, Praha 2

LAF continues its cooperation with Prague’s prime literary venue by presenting an evening dedicated to the distinguished Chinese poet Yang Lian. The evening will be hosted by Czech poet Petr Borkovec. www.yanglian.net/

Cairo Book Fair

28th January – 8th February
Cairo

LAF continues its promotion of intercultural dialogue between Europe and the Arab world at the 42nd Cairo Book Fair. With Russia as this year’s guest of honour, the fair aims to further the exchange of cultures and introduce publishers, authors and readers from around the world to new literatures from Egypt, the Middle East and Europe. Alongside the fair, LAF are bringing three writers from Central Europe to Cairo with European Literature Today and holding a seminar for Arab publishers.

European Literature Today

28th January, 7pm - 8pm 
Al-Balad Bookstore,
31 Mohamed Mahmoud Street – El Tahrir Square,
next to Cilantro.

LAF is back in Cairo with the fourth event from the series European Literature Today: highlighting the cultural diversity of Europe and presenting its multifaceted literary scene through the work of living authors from different countries.

Meet three authors from Central Europe: Veronika Šikulová (Slovakia) Maja Vidmar and Mirt Komel (Slovenia), introduced in Arabic by lecturer and translator Dr Khaled Biltagi of Al-Alsun Faculty, Ain Shams University.

International Seminar for Arab Publishers, Cairo

27th January
British Council,
192 El Nil Street, Agouza, Cairo

On the eve of the Cairo Book Fair, LAF and Kotob Arabia are holding a seminar for Arab publishers. As part of our work with the Anna Lindh foundation and with the kind support of the British Council Egypt, this one-day seminar will provide publishers with an improved understanding of the principles of international publishing and best practice in the publishing of translations. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss their experiences of international publishing and ideas for projects with the organisers. Speakers will include: Mohammed Awf and Ramy Habeeb (Kotob Arabia, Egypt), and Alexandra Büchler (Literature Across Frontiers, UK).

Beirut39 in Cairo

7 pm – 8:30 pm, 26th January
Al Kotob Khan Bookstore, 3/1 Al Lasilky Road,
New Maadi, Cairo 11742 Tel+202 2519 48 07

An evening with Beirut39 writers - Hamdy el Gazzar, Mansoura Ez Eldin, Mohamed Salah Al Azab, Nagat Ali and Youssef Rakha. Hosted by the writer and translator Nael Eltoukhy.

Beirut39 is a project of the Hay Festival which celebrates Beirut as the World Book Capital 2009 and highlights writing by the new generation of authors from the Arab world. Selected by a panel of judges, the 39 writers under the age of 40 will be brought together for a series of events in Beirut in April 2010.

Beirut 39 in Cairo is organised by Literature Across Frontiers, a partner of Hay Festival, on the occasion of the Cairo Book Fair 2010.