Modern Poetry in Translation

Event: The Poetry Vitamin: MPT at The Oxford Literary Festival, April 7th

Marina Boroditskaia

As part of the Oxford Literary Festival Modern Poetry in Translation presented a Discussion and Reading by Two Great Writers for Children

Leading children's poets of Russia and Britain Marina Boroditskaia and Michael Rosen met for a unique discussion of how poetry captures the hearts of children and adults in different cultures. Is poetry the best children's vitamin? A reading by both poets featured new translations of Marina's work. This discussion was chaired by poet David Constantine (co-editor of Modern Poetry in Translation).

The event was hosted by Modern Poetry in Translation, and supported by the British Council 

Marina Boroditskaia is a Russian poet and translator. She has published numerous books of children’s poetry in Russia, and translated many English-language children’s writers into Russian, including A. A. Milne, Eleanor Farjeon and Hilaire Belloc. Her most recent translation, the relatively grown-up poets of the Silver Age, appeared in 2010, and she has also translated John Donne, Chaucer and Burns, among others. She is the author of five books of poetry for adults (but dislikes the idea that children’s poetry and adult poetry are somehow different – noting that ‘they’re made of the same stuff’). Marina has received several Russian prizes for poetry and translation and the prestigious children’s literature Kornei Chukovskii Prize. She presents the Russian equivalent of Poetry Please! on Russian radio – called ‘The Literary First Aid Box’, it is inspired by Marina’s idea that literature is the best multivitamin on the market. 

Michael Rosen is the UK’s best loved children’s poet and the former Children’s Laureate. He has spent a lifetime promoting poetry and reading in schools and is passionate about the children’s right to read. His best-known children’s books such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt are classics and learnt by heart by children all over the country. More recently his ardent defence of the Booktrust’s free books for children saved the scheme from government cuts. Michael has his own website at www.michaelrosen.co.uk

This event was part of the Market Focus Russia 2011 cultural programme at the London Book Fair organised by the British Council with Academia Rossica.  For more information about the full programme of events with Russian writers, please contact Fiona McMorrough at FMCM - FionaM@fmcm.co.uk