Globus Books is honored to present Maria Stepanova and a discussion of her last book "In Memory of Memory" (New Directions, 2021), translated into English by Sasha Dugdale. "In Memory of Memory" received a prestigious Russian award, Bolshaya Kniga, in 2018 and was short-listed for the International Booker Prize 2021.
Maria Stepanova, born in Moscow, is a poet, essayist, and journalist, and editor in chief of the online newspaper Colta. She is the author of over ten poetry collections, three of which have recently been translated and published in English: War of the Beasts and Animals (Bloodaxe Books, 2021), In Memory of Memory (New Directions, 2021), and The Voice Over (Columbia University Press, 2021), which includes a selection of Stepanova’s poetry and essays originally published in Russia between 1996 and 2016.
The masterful English translation is by Sasha Dugdale, a British poet, playwright, and translator. Dugdale has translated Russian poetry and drama, including Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. From 2012 to 2017, she served as editor of Modern Poetry in Translation, and she is co-director of the Winchester Poetry Festival.
Stepanova presents her book in conversation with Zarina Zabrisky, the author of three short story collections and a novel "We, Monsters" (Numina Press, 2014). Zabrisky's work appeared in nine countries in over fifty literary magazines and anthologies, including The Nervous Breakdown, A Capella Zoo, Eleven Eleven, The Rumpus, Guernica, and received nominations and awards, including the 2013 Acker Awards for Avant-Garde Excellence. Zabrisky runs literary and cultural programs at Globus Books.
Globus Books is an independent bookstore serving San Francisco since 1971. It offers a wide-ranging stock of books on all things Russia. Globus is actively working with the libraries across the states on completing their holdings for Russian publications, both contemporary and out-of-print. The Globus Books team is well-known for its expertise in first editions of Russian literature, books on the Russian avant-garde, early imprints, and travel and voyage books. Under the new management, Globus strives to serve the Bay Area, bridging gaps, continuing cultural traditions, and giving voice to unrepresented communities in Russia and the US. Globus Books features several series of literary and cultural events on its KZread Channel ( / globusbookssf , including Literary Translation Round Table, History/Anthropology, Playtime and Storytime for children, and more.
This program is produced and hosted by Zarina Zabrisky