Pashtun poetry, #ireadeverywhere, and more

News, Reviews, and Interviews

Since 2011, fierce Taliban rule in Pakistan has silenced traditional Pashtun poets. Now, migrating from the region, a group of about 50 poets are defying their orders, returning to the verses they love to describe their refugee status.

Have you heard of the film Snowpiercer? Few know that before it was a hit film, it was a French graphic novel. Here’s the story behind its 30-year translation (and its road to the silver screen).

What is it like to be a writer living in Thailand? Speaking with several journalists during a recent visit, Marisa Akara reveals the current state of free expression in the area.

For Your Calendar

Looking for a unique way to travel and learn about Europe? By supporting this new crowd-funded campaign, you can help bring 25 European countries and their unique histories to a rich mobile app very soon.

Know a talented young adult who loves to write poetry? Encourage them to enter the first annual Timothy Corsellis Prize, awarded in memory of a young WWII pilot and poet.

Want to write for a major publication? The Guardian is looking for culture bloggers, vloggers, and personalities from around the world.

The first annual Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference is scheduled for summer 2015, with translators Don Share, Susan Bernofsky, and Maureen Freely, among others, serving as faculty.

Fun Finds and Inspiration

The New York Public Library is encouraging people to read everywhere—even celebrities—with their new #ireadeverywhere photo campaign.

Looking for a last-minute summer getaway? Consider visiting the poetry capital of Canada: Fredericton, New Brunswick.

If you’d like to learn more about Syrian poetry, this top 10 list from the Arabic Literature (in English) blog is a great place to start.

And what about Finland? Get to know Finnish authors and their works with this introduction to Finnish literature from Words Without Borders.