We don’t like to be self-congratulatory, but it’s always nice to be nominated for awards (I’m speaking on a collective level – I personally have been nominated for a nice round zero awards in my high-flying lifetime). So we were thrilled to learn, at the recent London Book Fair, that Hugh Aplin’s translation of Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich, published by Hesperus in 2005, had been shortlisted for the 2007 Rossica Prize. The Rossica Prize celebrates excellence in literary translation from Russian to English, so many congratulations to Hugh Aplin. Excellence is a thing that not too many people stand accused of.
We’re perhaps even more thrilled to learn that this nomination will provide ample opportunity for hobnobbing and, hopefully, ligging, as all shortlisted translators will be reading extracts from their work at the London Review Bookshop in Bloomsbury, London on the evening of Wednesday 23rd May, which is the eve of the announcement of the prize’s winner. Information about the event and how to purchase tickets can be found on the London Review Bookshop website… we’ll see you by the refreshments.
To lower the cultural tone quite drastically, I am genuinely devastated to discover that the BBC is pulling the plug on Neighbours. If my childhood memories don’t mean more than a few measly millions of pounds, then the BBC ain’t the corporation I thought it was… I can feel an online petition coming on.
Also, to end this hotchpotch of a blog – do head over and check out the new issue of the Hesperus Press online magazine, slaved over by yours truly and finally uploaded today. You’ll find news on the latest shenanigans here at Hesperus HQ, along with opportunities to win books, extracts from our latest titles and reviews.
Happy reading,
ER, signing off for the weekend.
[...] 23rd, 2007 by hesperuspress I know, I know, I said just the other day that self-congratulation ain’t my bag, but I’ve just found some lovely things written [...]