Grigori Kanovich – Shtetl Romance sold to Poland

   new sale

Polish translation rights for Grigori Kanovich’s saga SHTETL ROMANCE about a family in a Jewish Shtetl have been sold to Poland/ Fundacja Pogranicze.

A marvellous family novel, wise and pittoresque on the last 20 years of life in the Eastern European SHTETL. A moving piece of literature of a loss of the Jewish communities.

Ekaterinburg 2 – Anna Matveeva

   stories from Ekaterinburg

Anna Matveeva was born in Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk by then) and has been living there since. All her literary works are connected to this town and the region: her several collections of short stories, her novel DYATLOV PASS about a tragic true story that happened in the Ural mountains, and of course her latest novel VERA STENINA’S ENVY where the main heroine is working as a very special art expert in the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts – being able to feel and hear a painting. If it is fake, there will be no sound.

This museum was one of the sightseeing spots Anna Matveeva showed to me today telling me thousands of interesting stories behind the facades of the capital of the Ural. After a day full of impressions and talks we ended up in the House of Writers where this photo was taken.

Ekaterinburg – Roman Senchin

   from Krasnoyarsk to Ekaterinburg

From Krasnoyarsk traveling on the Transsiberian Railway to Ekaterinburg, I was kind of following the tracks of Roman Senchin. Originally from the Krasnoyarsk region Senchin, after having spent years in Moscow, moved to Ekaterinburg not so long ago where I met him now. As a present I brought him smoked Taimen from the Krasnoyarsk fish market which we shared and enjoyed with Vodka together with other Ekaterinburg intellectuals at the House of Writers (photo).

The first novel that made him famous also abroad was MINUS (after the Siberian town Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk region). In his latest novel RAIN IN PARIS the hero in his midlife crisis finally decides to visit Paris, the city of his dreams. But being there he hardly leaves his hotel room getting stuck in memories about his past life far back home in Siberia.

KRYAKK 2 – Aleksandr Grigorenko

   stories from Siberia

Aleksandr Grigorenko has spent practically his whole life in the depths of Siberia. He lives near Krasnoyarsk working as a journalist. Today he gave me a tour in and around Krasnoyarsk – with lots of stories behind it.

In both his novels MEBET and ILGET the author is asking the old questions about existence, happiness and the loneliness of man. His modern magical realism with versatile heroes who challenge their destiny, are based on the rituals of the Nenets and Evenks people of the far north of Krasnoyarsk region, and the mystical beliefs which shape their daily lives.

KRYAKK – Krasnoyarsk Book Fair 2018

   Wiedling Literary Agency goes Siberia

For the first time – finally – I visited the famous KRYAKK (Krasnoyarskaya Yarmarka Kniznoi Kultury) where I took this photo on the official opening. This book fair was initiated and is mainly sponsored by the Prokhorov foundation, so it was of course Irina Prokhorova welcoming all guests. 5 days full of interesting events, discussions, readings for an enthusiastic Siberian audience.

Soon more to follow from Siberia. Yours Thomas Wiedling

Olga Slavnikova – Awards for new novel THE JUMP

   awards

The new novel THE JUMP by Olga Slavnikova has greatest response among Russian award Jurys in 2018:

Big Book Award shortlist (winner will be announced Dec 4)
Yasnaya Polyana Award
Book of the Year (Moscow International Book Fair)
National Bestseller Award shortlist

Neither idyllic nor tragic, the novel has no contradicting truth and lies, but instead illustrates the clash of many different truths meeting on the solid ground of harsh reality in nowadays Russia.