The PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature and RCINY present Romanian author Mircea Cărtărescu


Before his prized novel Blinding (Orbitor) is released in the U.S. (forthcoming in 2012 from Archipelago Books), make sure not to miss the encounter with one of Romania's most celebrated authors, Mircea Cărtărescu. At the invitation of the 7th PEN World Voices Festival in NYC, Mircea Cărtărescu will take part to a series of festival readings and conversations, as well as other parallel events.

On Monday, April 25, at 7:30 pm, join us for the festival opening event, "Written on Water," on Manhattan’s waterfront and get a glimpse of the week-long celebration of world literature. Taking place in the stunning Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, the evening will explore the living nature of writing with a stellar lineup of authors and actors. Mircea Cărtărescu will join Festival Chair Salman Rushdie, Malcolm Gladwell, Giocanda Belli, Deborah Eisenberg, Evan Fallenberg, Hanif Kureishi, Andrea Levy, Amélie Nothomb, Salman Rushdie, Wallace Shawn, Vladimir Sorokin, and Liao Yiwu. A special appearance by renowned Czech violinist-vocalist Iva Bittová, and readings from the PEN Prison Writing Program. The festivities will include an impromptu fashion show of must-have literary t-shirts.

Mircea Cărtărescu is also on board of the Literary Safari scheduled for Thursday, April 28 at the Westbeth Center for the Arts, together with authors Abdelkader Benali, John Burnside, Deborah Eisenberg, Marcelo Figueras, Michael Kohlmeir, Jonas Khemiri, Daniel Orozco, Gunnhild Øyehaug, and Lynne Tillman. Ever been on a literary safari? Explore Westbeth Center for the Arts Housing, the City’s oldest and largest artist community located in the heart of the bohemian West Village. With a map in hand, wander the hallways of this former industrial building, which was repurposed by renowned architect Richard Meier into 383 living and working lofts, and attend live readings in the homes of Westbeth residents by Festival participants. Cosponsored by Westbeth Center for the Arts.


Mircea Cărtărescu (born June 1, 1956 in Bucharest) is a poet, novelist, literary critic, and journalist. At present he is an associate professor in the Romanian Literature Department of the University of Bucharest, a member of  the Romanian Writers’ Union and the European Cultural Parliament. Cartarescu has published over 20 books, a numerous of articles, and his work has been translated into 16 languages. He obtained all the most important Romanian literary prizes, won the Giovanni Acerbi prize in Italy, the Vilenica Great Prize in Slovenia and in 1992, he was nominated for the Médicis Étrangère prize in France. Titles published in English include Nostalgia, a collection of short stories (New Directions, New York, 2005), and Be-bop Baby, a collection of poems, (Poetry New York, New York, 1999). The English translation of his Blinding (Orbitor) trilogy, by Sean Cotter, is forthcoming in 2012, from Archipelago Books. The French translation of Orbitor was short-listed in 1999, 2000 and 2001 for the Prix Union Latine. Read more


Below: Mircea Cărtărescu reading at the opening event: