Boris Akunin (pen-name of Grigory Chkhartishvili, b. 1956) is best known as a writer of genre (mainly detective) fiction, he is also the author of literary fiction, books on history, plays and essays. His recent popular history project, “History of the Russian State”, combines volumes of non-fiction and fiction. Akunin’s books have sold more than 30 million copies in Russia alone and have been translated into almost 50 languages. A number of his works have been adapted in Russia for cinema and television. Ileana Alexandra Orlich is President’s Professor of Comparative Literature and Romanian Studies at Arizona State University. Her publications examine the societies and cultures of Central and Eastern Europe. She is also a translator of fiction and drama. Her translations of plays have been staged in New York and Bucharest.

Boris Akunin (pen-name of Grigory Chkhartishvili, b. 1956) is best known as a writer of genre (mainly detective) fiction, he is also the author of literary fiction, books on history, plays and essays. His recent popular history project, “History of the Russian State”, combines volumes of non-fiction and fiction. Akunin’s books have sold more than 30 million copies in Russia alone and have been translated into almost 50 languages. A number of his works have been adapted in Russia for cinema and television. Ileana Alexandra Orlich is President’s Professor of Comparative Literature and Romanian Studies at Arizona State University. Her publications examine the societies and cultures of Central and Eastern Europe. She is also a translator of fiction and drama. Her translations of plays have been staged in New York and Bucharest.

Boris Akunin (pen-name of Grigory Chkhartishvili, b. 1956) is best known as a writer of genre (mainly detective) fiction, he is also the author of literary fiction, books on history, plays and essays. His recent popular history project, “History of the Russian State”, combines volumes of non-fiction and fiction. Akunin’s books have sold more than 30 million copies in Russia alone and have been translated into almost 50 languages. A number of his works have been adapted in Russia for cinema and television. Ileana Alexandra Orlich is President’s Professor of Comparative Literature and Romanian Studies at Arizona State University. Her publications examine the societies and cultures of Central and Eastern Europe. She is also a translator of fiction and drama. Her translations of plays have been staged in New York and Bucharest.