On Translating Marina Tsvetaeva
Marina Tsvetaeva (1982-1941) was one of the great Russian language poets of the 20th century. She was greatly admired by Russian-American poet Joseph Brodsky: ...
My Experiences Of The 3rd International Odessa Literary Festival
On September 28 and October 1, For the third year in a row, Odessa hosted numerous talented and well-known writers, poets and litterateurs who had...
The Scent Of Romance: Four Tales of Love In Odessa
One of the most respected journalists on the Ukraine and Russian conflict recounts four stories of romance in the city.
I.
It was a foggy salty...
Facebook’s Role In The Paradigm Of Ukraine’s Modern Literary Process
It should be no surprise that Ukraine’s political revolution has also given birth to a literary renaissance, one that is firmly connected to the...
21st Century War: Conflict As Political Theatre
The man was as insistent as he was drunk. He leaned in; his reeking breath was repellent.
“Putin he Strong, he strong!” he slurred. “Kyiv...
Simon Sebag Montefiore's Ode to Charms of Odessa
Globally acclaimed historian and author Simon Sebag Montefiore is convinced that Odessa is unlike any other city.
About the author: Simon Sebag Montefiore is a...
Babel’s Extended Ode to Odessa
'Odessa' by Isaac Babel
Translated by Val Vinokur
Photo by Igor Sytnik
Odessa is a nasty town. Everybody knows this. Instead of saying “what’s the difference,” over...
I Am A Jew!
Viktor Yerofeyev is one of the best known Russian writers working today, the author of modern classics such as “Life with an Idiot” (which...
Taking Isaac Babel to Canada
Hip Hop innovator ‘Socalled’ reflects on adapting Babel’s Odessa Tales for Canadian audiences – in Yiddish!
I had first discovered Babel’s writing by accident rummaging...
Nineteenth Century Travelers In Odessa
Ernest Hemingway’s famous observation in his memoir ‘A Movable Feast’’, in which he describes Paris as “the place best organized for a writer to...
