Presenting some of the brightest literary talents from ten EU countries to New York audiences, event celebrates the cultural diversity of Europe

Czech Center New York will host European Literature Night (ELN) on Monday, November 22, 2021. Returning to New York after a two-year break, the 2021 edition will take place from 6 PM to 11 PM at the Bohemian National Hall presenting an exciting selection of fiction, poetry, and short stories. Authors, translators, and actors representing ten EU countries will read from new releases and beloved classics and participate in a panel discussion.

A decade-old tradition in many European countries where readings and the exchange of ideas have often happened in communal spaces, such as pubs and coffee shops, ELN brings to New York the spirit of European café culture. Launched in New York in 2017, ELN’s concept is based in the spirit of unity and the belief that literature is a unique and creative medium that can help strengthen the dialogue between individual voices and cultures and break down communication barriers. The 2021 lineup represents a diverse and varied Europe with participants from Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain. 

Participants and featured books include: Edoardo Ballerini (Italy): Those Who from Afar Look Like Flies: An Anthology of Italian Poetry from Pasolini to the Present; Sean Gasper Bye (Poland): The King of Warsaw by Szczepan Twardoch; Véronique Firkusny and Elena Sokol (Czech Republic): City of Torment by Daniela Hodrová; Sándor Halmosi (Hungary): Decameron57, Everness80, The Dual Nature of Silence, Apocrypha, Meltdown; Alta Ifland (Romania): The Wife Who Wasn’t; Stefan Kutzenberger (Austria): Jokerman; Alek Popov (Bulgaria): Mission Turan; Hugo dos Santos (Portugal): A Child in Ruins by José Luís Peixoto;

Megan Tomas (Poland): The Career of Nicodemus Dyzma by Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz; Kirmen Uribe (Spain): Bilbao-New York-Bilbao; and Katarina Vizina (Slovakia): The Bloody Sonnets by Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav. The evening will be moderated by Andrew Singer, Director and Editor in Chief of Trafika Europe, Europe’s literary radio station.

“We are honored and excited to have the European Literature Night back live at the Bohemian National Hall in Manhattan,” says Miroslav Konvalina, Director of the Czech Center New York and Vice President of EUNIC New York Cluster. “The historic Ballroom will serve as a venue for great readings by authors, translators, and presenters as well as discussions about the current state of literary translation in different parts of Europe. I am happy to see so many of us coming together to celebrate our shared love of books.”

PROGRAM FOR NOVEMBER 22, 2021:

Order of appearance will be announced shortly.

6 PM – 8 PM: Live readings, questions and conversations

8 PM – 8:45 PM: Panel discussion “European Regions: Progress in Literary Culture” moderated by Andrew Singer

8:45 PM- 11 PM: Live readings, questions and conversations

Select books will be available for purchase.

VENUE AND TICKETS:

Free and open to the public with registration.

Masks and proof of vaccination are required to enter the venue. Photo ID will be checked. More information can be found on Czech Center website.

Bohemian National Hall, 321 E 73^rd Street, New York

Subway: Q to 72nd Street, 6 to 68th Street or 77th Street

For those who can’t make it in person, an edited presentation of the evening will be available on Trafika Europe Radio www.trafikaeurope.org.

This special evening is free and open to the public, hosted by the Czech Center New York with the collaboration of partnering cultural institutions and consulates: Austrian Cultural Forum New York, Camōes Institute, Liszt Institute-Hungarian Cultural Center New York, Italian Cultural Institute New York, Consulate General of Slovakia in New York, Elizabeth Kostova Foundation, Consulate General of Spain in New York, Polish Cultural Institute in New York, Romanian Cultural Institute, Consulate General of Portugal in New York, and the support of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations.

About Czech Center

The Czech Center’s mission is to actively promote the Czech Republic by showcasing Czech culture, innovations and creativity in the US. Its program covers visual and performing arts, film, literature, music, architecture, design and fashion, science and social innovations. As well as hosting its own events, the Czech Center offers support for other groups organizing interculture initiatives among Czech and US partners.

The Czech Center also seeks to further enhance cultural relationships between the US and the Czech Republic through curatorial visits, media tours and artistic residencies; helping to generate creative dialogue among artists, scholars, scientists and cultural activists from both countries. The Center promotes instruction of Czech language and provides series of Czech language courses.The Czech Center, a contributory organization of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opened in New York in 1996. The Czech Center is part of a worldwide network of 26 branches across three continents including the Czech Houses in Moscow, Jerusalem and Bratislava. The Czech Center was a founding member of the EUNIC. www.czechcenter.com

About EUNIC New York

EUNIC – European Union National Institutes for Culture – is the European network of organizations working in 90 countries worldwide through a network of 125 clusters and acting as a platform for promoting European values, sharing knowledge, building capacity amongst its members and partners, and engaging local partners in dialogue and common cultural projects. Created in 2007, the New York cluster of EUNIC, bringing together around 40 cultural missions from the European Union, is working in partnership to strengthen the transatlantic dialogue and cultural cooperation and showcase European values and creativity.

Media contacts:

Dalia Stoniene/StudioStripe NYC

T: 718-316-5509 / E: dalia@studiostripe.nyc

Czech Center New York:

T: 646-422-3399 / E: info@czechcenter.com