Europa28

About

In collaboration with Hay Festival and Wom@rts.
Introduced by Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project.

‘To be European,’ writes Leïla Slimani, ‘is to believe that we are, at once, diverse and united, that the Other is different but equal.’

Despite these high ideals, however, there is a growing sense that Europe needs to be fixed, or at the least seriously rethought. The clamour of rising nationalism – alongside widespread feelings of disenfranchisement – needs to be addressed if the dreams of social cohesion, European integration, perhaps even democracy are to be preserved.

This anthology brings together 28 acclaimed women writers, artists, scientists and entrepreneurs from across the continent to offer new perspectives on the future of Europe, and how it might be rebuilt. Featuring essays, fictions and short plays, Europa28 asks what it means to be European today and demonstrates – with clarity and often humour – how women really do see things differently.

Translated by: Rahul Bery, Jen Calleja, Ruth Clarke, Jennifer Croft, Katy Derbyshire, Margita Gailitis, Jean Harris, Emily Jeremiah, Annie McDermott, Julia Sherwood, Sam Taylor, Jakub Tlolka, Jim Tucker, Rimas Uzgiris, Saskia Vogel & Jennifer Zoble.

Press

‘Inspiring, essential, honest and deeply humane... This brilliant collection takes readers on a brave journey into our beloved continent, Europe, daring to tell the stories beyond its centres of power and privilege.’ - Elif Shafak

One of The Irish Times' 'Books to Watch Out for in 2020' 

One of Translated Lit's 'Most Anticipated Books of March 2020' 

One of The Guardian Bookshop's 'Ones to Watch' (March 2020)

One of No Alibis Bookstore's 'Staff Picks' (2020) 

Praise for Europa28:

"The scale of vision is ambitious... a bright celebration of unity in difference." - The Guardian

"Essays on the EU's future deliver warnings on the dream of becoming a beacon for the world" - Read about Europa28 in the Financial Times

"The anthology provides a literary platform for 28 insightful, pragmatic and enlightened female voices" - The Irish Times

"Exquisitely written, translated, challenging and important." - Rosie Goldsmith, Literaturhaus 

"Informative, touching, and occasionally funny, the book is enough to make one optimistic about the future." - The London Magazine

"A fascinatingly detailed and hopeful collection that not only takes us travelling in and out of different countries, and their both significant and buried away moments in history; but it doesn't shy away from asking difficult questions of the current climate." - For Books' Sake

"If you are interested in exceptional women writers, immersive, thought-provoking writing, for hope and inspiration, do pick Europa28 up." - The Literary Addict

"A fascinating and diverse collection of expositions on what Europe can, could, or should mean." - Translating Women

"Europa28 is honest, brave and engrossing... both experimental and accessible in equal measure. Read it, please." - STORGY

"There's plenty to engage with in this sharp collection... I can't speak for everyone but this common humanity makes sense to me." - Paul Burke

"In the UK's Brexit bubble, an island in more sense than one, European politics seem artificially distant. Reading this book underlines the naivety in believing we are so very different." - Andy McDougall

"This group of female writers recognise Europe's flaws and riches, its challenges as well as its beauty... Europa28 is a call to action for us all." - Cathy Castling (Goodreads user)

'An excellent collection [...] a timely and important book.' - Bronwen Griffiths (Goodreads user)

'A modern look at Europe, such a good collection.' - Haven Hightower (Goodreads user)

"Thought-provoking and provides hope and inspiration from exceptional women writers." - Number 9 Reviews

'This will be a body of work that encapsulates the human spirit. These writers and thinkers will change the world.' - Caroline Michel (Chair of Hay Festivals)

'These writers are delivering their visions for the future - this is something we really need right now as we look to reimagine our institutions and relationships.' - Roman Simic (Fraktura)

LISTEN

Listen to Finnish contributor Saara Turunen discuss her essay on The Europeans podcast.

Listen to an interview with editor Sophie Hughes for the Lost in Translations podcast. 

Listen to editor Sophie Hughes and translator Jen Calleja discuss Europa28 on The Wapping Project podcast.

Listen to a special episode of The Comma Press Podcast dedicated to Europa28, featuring editor Sophie Hughes and contributors Janne Teller & Kapka Kassabova. 

Listen to the Hay Festival Podcast (S2, Ep10) dedicated to Europa28, featuring contributors Leila Slimani, Kapka Kassabova, Janne Teller and Hilary Cottam in conversation with Elif Shafak.

READ

Read Leila Slimani's essay from the collection at The Guardian. 

Read Lisa Dwan's essay from the collection at The Irish Times.

Read Annelies Beck's essay from the collection at The New European. 

Read Julya Rabinowich's essay from the collection at The State of the Arts.

Read an exclusive excerpt of Nora Nadjarian's short story from the collection at Lithub.

Read the piece The Shift News wrote about the essay by Maltese author Caroline Muscat. 

Read a feature on Europa28, including interviews with translators Ruth Clarke and Katy Derbyshire, at Lucy Writers' Platform.

Co-editor Sophie Hughes writes for our blog on her work in translation in honour of 'Mother Language Day'.

WATCH 

 

Watch the preview event at Hay Festival 2019 on Hay Player, featuring Paula Bonet, Hilary Cottam, Kapka Kassabova, Janne Teller and Sophie Hughes (£) 

Watch the Hay Festival 2020 event #1 on Hay Player, featuring Zsofia Ban, Caroline Muscat, Kapka Kassabova and Sophie Hughes (£)

Watch the Hay Festival 2020 event #2 on Hay Player, featuring Leila Slimani, Hilary Cottam, Lisa Dwan and Sophie Hughes (£)

Watch translator Rahul Bery read from the story he translated from the Portugese, Ana Pessoa's 'The Voices Inside My Head', on the Translators Aloud YouTube channel.