An interview with… Santiago Roncagliolo

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my interview with Santiago Roncagliolo for Booktrust:

In the busy hub of Foyle’s cafe, I meet the winner of this year’s Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, Santiago Roncagliolo. In spite of the building publicity surrounding the Prize over the past few weeks, it is unlikely that any of the other cafe goers would think twice to look at Roncagliolo. A Peruvian-born writer, he moved to Spain ten years ago and his political thriller Abril Rojo (Red April) was awarded the prestigious Spanish literary prize the Premio Alfaguara de Novela in 2006. However, until last Thursday, he has remained, relatively unknown elsewhere in Europe. Now at the age of just 36, he has triumphed once again and has become the youngest ever recipient of the IFFP for Red April.

Published on 31-05-11. Read on here

Spotlight on the Shortlist: Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2011

Posted on May 26, 2011 by ollie

Here is my latest blog for Booktrust:

Last night I attended a panel discussion on the six titles shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. With news that volcanic ash had disrupted a number of flights across Europe, I was anxious to see whether any of the authors and translators would make it. Thankfully the books were well represented, with Peruvian writer Santiago Roncagliolo, Danish translator Charlotte Barslund, US-Turkish translator Maureen Freely and Irish translator Frank Wynne all speaking on behalf of their shortlist entries.

Published on 26-05-11. Read on here

Mexico’s drug war is a global crisis

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my latest article published in Prospect:

On Sunday morning, 27 people were killed and beheaded in northern Guatemala following a raid on a dairy ranch in Caserio La Bomba. The incident has been described as the worst massacre in Guatemala for over 15 years. Amid growing suspicion that the attack may be linked to the rising presence of the Mexican Zeta drug cartel in Guatemala, the massacre may also point to the wider responsibilities of Mexico’s drug war.

Published on 19-05-11. Read on here

New Russia

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my latest blog for Booktrust:

This is a historical week for Russia, since it marks the 50th anniversary of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s pioneering journey as the first man to fly into outer space. It’s also the week where the London Book Fair has named Russia its market focus country. As a whole host of Russian writers and literary publishers flock to London, I thought it would be worthwhile drawing attention to what modern-day Russian literature has to offer.

Published on 26-04-11. Read on here

BP’s Russian roulette

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Ruth Green

Here is my latest article published in IBA Global Insight:

In January, BP and state-owned Russian energy company Rosneft shocked the world by signing a US$16bn share swap deal. The two companies intend to jointly exploit oil and gas reserves in Russia’s Arctic shelf and make Rosneft the largest single shareholder in BP. The deal, which will also see BP increase its holdings in the former assets of Yukos oil company, occurred only a matter of weeks after Yukos’ former CEO, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was sentenced to a further six years in prison.

A stark reminder of BP’s recent past also came shortly after, when the company reported a loss of US$4.9bn – mainly due to US$40.9bn for charges relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill – making 2010 its first year of losses for 20 years. The tie-up therefore not only raises many questions about the viability of a British – Russian exploration operation, but also poses questions about the future of BP and the oil and gas industry as a whole.

Published on 04-04-11. Read on here

Ruth Green

International Freelance Journalist

Category Archives: Europe

An interview with… Santiago Roncagliolo

Spotlight on the Shortlist: Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2011

Mexico’s drug war is a global crisis

New Russia

BP’s Russian roulette