Nadezhda Khvoshchinskaya (1821–1889) was one of Russia’s greatest nineteenth-century novelists, yet today she is virtually unknown. One of three literary sisters (the “Russian Brontës”), Nadezhda was the third highest paid author in Russia by the 1870s, yet she disappeared from literary history in the twentieth century as the Bolsheviks nationalised the works of fifty-seven writers – all men – for publication in greater quantities than Soviet literature.

In celebration of her 200th jubilee, scholars and translators are working to restore her legacy and to return her to her rightful place in the canon. The event will feature readings by translators from four new translations, just some of Khvoshchinskaya’s dozen novels and two dozen tales written in her nearly fifty-year career.

Nora Favorov, The Brother (Bratets, 1858)
Anastassia Kostrioukova, The First Struggle (Pervaya borba, 1869)
Erik McDonald, The Meeting (Svidanie, 1879)
Karen Rosneck, Ursa Major (Bolshaya medveditsa, 1870–71)

Each reading will be followed by a presentation from the translator on the nature of Khvoshchinskaya’s writing and the challenges of rendering it in English. There will be a break in the middle and there will also be time for questions from the audience. The event has been organised by Dr Anna Berman and Prof Hilde Hoogenboom.

 5a Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2TA