Presented by the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the British Council. The Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference is a unique series of events that will bring writers together around the world to create an historic picture of the role of literature today. The conversation begins at the Edinburgh International Book Festival where 50 world renowned writers will join members of the public every afternoon from […]

The Man Booker Prize Long List was announced this week with some old favorites (HIlary Mantel) and rising stars (Jeet Thayil). The winner will be announced in October. Who do you think should win? Nicola Barker, The Yips (Fourth Estate) Ned Beauman, The Teleportation Accident (Sceptre) André Brink, Philida (Harvill Secker) Tan Twan Eng, The Garden of Evening Mists (Myrmidon Books) Michael Frayn, Skios (Faber […]

Is being a foreigner in China no longer a big deal? Does this mean that the days of getting your photo taken at the Forbidden City as if you were a celebrity are numbered? This American Life reports on Americans in China: It used to be that the American expats in China were the big shots. They […]

BLF author Bi Fei Yu discusses the inspiration for his novel Massage (the English edition will be published by Penguin China next year) in an article for the New York Times. Summer 2003. I suffer a serious shoulder injury. A friend suggests I go to a massage clinic that employs blind masseurs. The clinic is […]

In celebration of its status as a UNESCO City of Literature, the city of Reykjavík is organizing a month of events – Reykjavík Reading Festival in october 2012-   to promote the joy of reading. And they have chosen an ideal mascot to launch the program – Sleipnir, who is the eight-legged horse of Odinn in Norse mythology. (Sleipnir) […]

The Millions listed their top picks for the most anticipated upcoming releases for the latter half of 2012. Zadie Smith (NW), Michael Chabon (Telegraph Avenue), Barbara Kingsolver (Flight Behavior), Martin Amis (Lionel Asbo) and Ian McEwan (Sweet Tooth) all have new novels coming out. We are especially excited for BLF 2011 author Emma Donaghue’s latest […]

Just in time for the Fourth of July, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite American writers, of past and present. This list is by no mean exhaustive, but just a starting off point. Who are your favorites? The Classics Sure, these may be the books students have to read in school […]

This Wednesday, July 4th, Artlink Australia presents a panel in which artists, curators and writers discuss aspects of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art. Panelists include curator, activist and writer Djon Mundine OAM, member of the Bandjalung people of New South Wales and the concept curator for the 1988 Aboriginal Memorial installation permanently exhibited at the National Gallery of Australia;  writer and painter Zhou […]

Novelist Lev Grossman (The Magician, The Magician King) writes about the merits and dangerous of reading and walking at the same time. I know it’s a weakness. A vice even. You’re making a choice: essentially what you’re saying (or what I’m saying) is that sometimes you’re more interested in fiction than in reality and you […]

Tim Luard’s new book, Escape from Hong Kong tells the little known story of the daring Christmas Day escape made by 60 Chinese, British and Danish intelligence and military personnel on the eve of the Japanese invasion. Led by the one-legged Chinese Admiral Chan Chak, the men fled to safety on the mainland, traveling on five small […]