Canadian Literature Featured at Prominent Book Fair Events in Russia

Guy Gavriel Kay signs a contract for his eighth book to be published in Russian, in front of Dom Knigi, where he was the first foreign author to sign books at a Moscow book shop. From left to right: Natalia Sanina, Director, Synopsis literary agency; author Guy Gavriel Kay; Vladimir Sekachev, Mr. Kay’s Russian publisher.

For the first time in Russia, a delegation promoting Canadian literature was featured in prominent book fair events in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The visit made an impact on Russian readers and publishers who, over the course of the week, became increasingly familiar with Canada and its literary talents.

The Canadian Embassy, with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, enabled a Canadian literary delegation to participate in events from November 25 to December 1, 2006. The delegation consisted of author Guy Gavriel Kay, Globe and Mail Books Editor Martin Levin, and representatives from Candel, a group of three Canadian publishing houses (McArthur& Company, Theytus Books and Les Éditions du Boréal).

In St. Petersburg, representatives from Candel toured the LenExpo Book Salon, which featured over 200 Russian and international publishers, as well as retailers and libraries from across Russia. Guy Gavriel Kay participated in a book-signing session at Bookvoed, the largest bookselling network in northwest Russia.

From November 28 to December 1, the Canadian delegation participated in the Non/Fiction book fair in Moscow with a Canada Stand, where Canadian books in Russian were on display. The event was attended by an estimated 30,500 people, many of whom passed by the Canada Stand while exploring Russian and international literature.

A reception hosted by Ambassador Ralph Lysyshyn was held at the Official Residence on November 29, 2006, in honour of Candel. From left to right: Guy Gavriel Kay, Anita Large, Martin Levin, Kim McArthur, Ambassador Ralph Lysyshyn, Pascal Assathiany

CanLit, the first modern anthology of Canadian literature published in Russian, was launched on the opening day of Non/Fiction with a seminar entitled "Canadian Literature You Didn't Know You Knew." The seminar was attended by an estimated 120 representatives of publishing industries, literary critics, literary translators and representatives of three Moscow libraries, as well as students and academics from the literary faculties of four leading Moscow Universities.

In addition to these main events, Canadian literature was actively promoted by delegation members Guy Gavriel Kay and Martin Levin, who participated in various events surrounding the Non/Fiction book fair. On November 30, Guy Gavriel Kay became the first non-Russian author to sign books at the largest book store in Moscow, Dom Knigi na Novom Arbate. He also held a master class with students from the Institute of Journalism and Literature, while Martin Levin spoke about the history of Canadian literature to students of literary criticism at Moscow State University.

This visit to St. Petersburg and Moscow resulted in the forging of important creative and business partnerships, as well as the realization of new understandings and appreciations for Canadian and Russian cultures alike. Over the course of the week, it became evident that the two countries share more than northern landscapes-Canada and Russia share a passion for quality reading and literary culture.

Panel participants at the seminar "Canadian Literature You Didn't Know You Knew."
From left to right: Martin Levin, Globe and Mail Books Editor; Kim McArthur, President and Publisher, McArthur & Company; author Guy Gavriel Kay; Alexander Livergant, deputy Editor-in-Chief, Inostrannaya Literatura (Foreign Literature) magazine; Matthew Mayer, Second Secretary, Embassy of Canada; Anita Large, Publishing Manager, Theytus Books Ltd.; Alexander Gavrilov, Editor-in-Chief, Knizhnoe Obozrenie (Books Review) weekly; Ksenia Staroselskaya, editor, Inostrannaya Literatura magazine; Pascal Assathiany; Director General, Les Editions du Boréal.