Forewords! A Go-Go...

Since we re-launched the Modern Classics a couple of years ago, we have had some success in getting some pretty famous (and very talented) people to contribute thoughtful and illuminating companion pieces to key texts: from Graham Coxon on Narcissus and Goldmund to Martin Scorsese on Silence and more, the track record has been good. This week, we were pleased to announce another coup as Joanne Harris of Chocolat fame writes on Boy In Darkness. We've had a sneak preview of it in this office and it's a wonderful piece of writing. But this is the first in a series of announcements: there will be a two or three more equally illustrious names to be revealed shortly...

A Review in a Thousand

We've had a barren spell in terms of reviews recently - in terms of new books anyway. But in today's Independent there is one well worth waiting for in praise of Enormity of the Tragedy -
see it here

As the review says, author Quim Monzó has been translated into many languages and we had a feeling that we might have stumbled on to something when we found that after nearly 20 years there STILL wasn't a book of his in English. Well, blimey, according to reviewer Michael Eaude he is one of the world's great short-story writers too but have a look at the review which takes in another Catalan work and gives you an insight into the vibrant literary scene in Catalonia...

And Saludos to Quim Monzó and translator Peter Bush!

Guardian Review

We were very pleased to see a review of Ryunosuke Akutagawa in the Guardian this past weekend. The article includes a nice bio as well as discusses his works, especially Kappa. Akutagawa is best known for the acclaimed film Rashomon which was based off a short story of his.

Alfred Douglas Review in the Wildean

One of our best-selling books at the moment is Caspar Wintermans' Lord Alfred Douglas . It's already had substantial reviews in the Telegraph and the Irish Times and, now, no less an authority than The Wildean gives it a good hearing. You can read both parts of the review above

Independent Review

The other day we sent a request to the Independent to see if there was any prospect for a review of The Enormity of the Tragedy . We didn't hear back on that one yet - but they were nice enough to put in a fantastic review of The Lady and The Little Fox Fur which can be seen here!

Journey In Blue shortlisted

Peter Owen are v proud to announce that Journey in Blue by Stig Dalager has been shortlisted for the International Impac Dublin Literary Award for 2008. Dalager's book on Han Andresen is one we are very proud of here and Journey In Blue joins the list with nine other books. The prize is awarded to a book of high literary merit, seen to have enriched world literature. Past winners have included Colm Tóibín and Orhan Pamuk. We will have more news on the website relating to the Nobel Prize winner and Peter Owen v soon, but for now congratulation and fingers crossed for Stig Dalager....

Kavan Evening - Pictures

As promised, more on the Kavan evening on 3rd July at the London Review Bookshop. Here are a few photos taken at the talk, the full recording is coming soon....



The full panel for the evening. From left to right: Brian Aldiss, Virginia Ironside, Doris Lessing and Christopher Priest




Brian Aldiss in thoughtful mode as Virginia Ironside looks on




One of the highpoints of the evening was Doris Lessing's plea for Kavan's The Parson to be recognised as a Kavan classic along with Ice and Guilty. Here she is brandishing it for greater effect!