2nd of September during the annual ceremony of “Russian Book of the Year Award” Alistair Burtenshaw, Group Exhibition Director, The London Book Fair. announced that Russia will be the Market Focus and Guest of Honour of The London Book Fair 2011 (www.londonbookfair.co.uk) and. The major Russian partner in this initiative will be the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications.

The London Book Fair Market Focus initiative is a key opportunity for UK and international publishers to liaise with their foreign counterparts, and seek out and capitalise on new business partnerships. The Russia Market Focus and the associated cultural programme will place a spotlight on contemporary Russian authors and Russia as an important publishing arena.

The event will be held with the support from the British Council, London Book Fair Market Focus Cultural Partner, and Academia Rossica.

Rosemary Hilhorst, Director, British Council Russia, comments:

“What unites British and Russian culture is our deep love of literature. Some may argue that our strong literary traditions lead the world. Many readers in the UK are familiar with classical Russian authors such as Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Chekhov but few can name contemporary Russian writers. This is a great opportunity for the British Council to help introduce more contemporary Russian literature to British readers and publishers as part of the Market Focus Russia Cultural Programme as well as create new relationships and readers in both of our societies.“