Please note: this event is part of our new Russian-language programme which we have launched alongside our English-language programme. All discussion, Q&A, and materials will be in Russian and, on this occasion, no translation will be provided.

Libris with Liberov is a series of intimate, thought-provoking talks where literature becomes a living conversation. Guided entirely by Roma Liberov’s personal choices and passions, each evening opens a new door into the world of Russian authors.

The opening talk will explore the life and work of Osip Mandelstam, one of the twentieth century’s most essential poets. Liberov – author, director, and producer of the film Сохрани мою речь навсегда (Keep My Words Forever), and founder of the musical-educational project of the same name, both dedicated to Mandelstam – will trace the poet’s path from the clarity of Acmeism to the charged late poems in which poetry becomes an act of moral resistance. The conversation will touch on the poet’s fate – confrontation with Soviet power, the “Stalin Epigram,” arrest, exile, and the Voronezh years – while remaining focused on the poetry itself: fragile, courageous, and deeply free. Join us to reflect on why Mandelstam’s voice continues to resonate today.

Roma Liberov is the CEO of WE EXIST! FOUNDATION, a film director, producer and screenwriter, known for his innovative documentary films that blend animation, puppetry, and archival materials to bring Russian literary figures to life. Through his work, Liberov has dedicated himself to preserving and reimagining Russian literary heritage for contemporary audiences. Liberov regularly lectures internationally, captivating audiences with his ability to make classic authors speak in a fresh, urgent, and deeply personal voice.

5a Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2TA