The Blessing of Language

In early June, a noisy, colorful band landed in Manhattan. Thirty Russian authors, two dozen publishers, as many journalists, and half as many organizers – a large crew indeed!

The whirligig was immediately set in motion. Meetings, discussions and receptions spilled out into the furthest corners of New York: the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Library, clubs, and, of course, Javits Center, site of the BookExpo America exhibition, which was giddy with the sounds of Russian speech.

Two elderly gentlemen who were at the expo trading in children’s books, after finding out I was from Russia, quickly became rather interested. “Do you like Putin? No? Well, then you must like Medved!” they exulted, hugely impressed by their own knowledge and wit.