Shusha Guppy was born in Tehran into a traditional family. Her father was Iran’s foremost philopher and pr ofessor of Philosophy at the University of Teheran. At 17 she went to Paris to study Oriental languages and philosophy, and also trained as a singer. In her memoirs “A Girl in
Sieb Posthuma, illustrator, designer and author, was born in Rotterdam in 1960 and is one of the most versatile Dutch picture book artists. After graduating from the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam he began working as a graphic designer and illustrator for newspapers yet shifted more and more over to illustrating
Sigitas Parulskis was born in Obeliai in rural Lithuania in 1965. He studied Lithuanian language and literature at the University of Vilnius. In 1991 his first volume of poems »Iš ilgesio visa tai« (1990; t: All this arises from longing), was awarded the Zigmas Gėlė Prize for the best first
Seyran Ateš was born in Turkey in 1963. Her family moved to Berlin in 1969, where she studied law and started working as a lawyer in 1997. She was awarded the German Cross of Merit for her commitment, especially to women’s and immigrants’ rights. Owing to continued threats she gave
Sara Ventroni was born in Rome in 1974. Critics call her one of the most autonomous Italian artists of recent years. Her writings can be found in anthologies across the world. She writes plays and participates in literature and jazz festivals. Ventroni’s writings are published in famous literature magazines and
Santiago Roncagliolo was born in Lima, Peru in 1975. He grew up in Mexico during his family’s political exile. Back in his home country, he studied linguistics and literature at the Universidad Católica. After graduation he spent three years working at the national helpdesk for the defence of human rights,
Sapphire was born in California in 1950 and studied Modern Dance in New York. Her poetry collection »American Dreams« (1994) was celebrated as the strongest first collection of poems to be published in the USA. In her novel »Push« (1996) she places an almost violent eloquence in opposition to real
Italian writer Sandro Veronesi was born in Florence in 1959. In 1985 he graduated from the university there with a degree in Architecture.In 1984, he published his first book, the poetry collection »Il cielo e il resto« (tr: The Sky and the Rest). He made his debut as a novelist
Salena Godden from London is a poet, radio announcer, performer and the singer of the ska-punk band »Saltpeter«. She has toured Australia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and the United States where she also worked with homeless children. She founded a radio poetry show called »saltpeter radio« and worked for the BBC
Roberto Saviano was born in Naples in 1979. After graduating in philosophy at the Università Federico II he began working as a journalist, writing for the weekly newspaper »L’Espresso« and for the alternative blog »Nazione Indiana«. He is a member of the Osservatorio sulla Camorra et l’Illegalità, an organization dedicated
The poet Robert Gray was born in Port Macquarie, Australia, in 1945 and grew up on the coast of New South Wales. Due to the diagnosis of a life-threatening heart condition, which turned out to be mistaken, he stopped going to school. He became a journalist and began writing poems.
Quim Monzó was born in Barcelona in 1952 and still lives there today. His jobs have included working as a graphic designer, comic book illustrator, scriptwriter, translator, songwriter and war correspondent. Monzó has published four novels, six short story collections and essays and he has been awarded the National Prize
