Join the first ever Romanian-British Literary Festival

Get ready for the first British-Romanian literary festival, bringing together British and Romanian literary stars in a series of dialogues, workshops and conversations.

Romania Rocks involves talks between bestselling British novelists, such as Deborah Levy, Elif Shafak, David Mitchell, and Paul Bailey, and Romanian authors like the poet and civic leader Ana Blandiana, poet and essayist Magda Cârneci, New York-based writer Norman Manea, Paris-based playwright Matei Vișniec, and the European Prize for Literature winning novelist Ioana Pârvulescu, among others. Each British-Romanian literary pair will discuss their work, as well as current affair topics, ranging from migration and diversity to the pandemic and mental health.

“Unlike Romanian music and film, and despite its brilliance, Romanian literature is less known in the English-speaking world,” Magda Stroe, Festival Director and the Acting Director of the RCI, said.

Organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, and in collaboration with the European Literature Network, the event will also include poetry readings by some of Romania’s most prominent contemporary poets and translation workshops. Both live and recorded panel discussions between UK-based Romanian authors, and Romania-based British authors will also take place.

“Our ambition with the Romanian Riveter magazine and the Romania Rocks festival is to shine a literary light on one of the most beautiful and creative countries in Europe,” the festival’s Artistic Director, and the founder of the European Literature Network, Rosie Goldsmith, said.

Romania Rocks is part of a series of Romanian Cultural Institute initiatives which celebrate 140 years since the start of diplomatic relations between Romania and the UK.

The festival will take place between 19 October-12 November. Find out more here and here.