Giovanni Orelli (1928- ) is a central figure in Swiss-Italian letters. He is the author of more than a dozen novels, as well as several books of poetry, and has long been active in the cultural sphere of the Ticino. In 1997, he was awarded the Schiller Prize. "Walaschek's Dream" is his first novel to appear in English. Serena Vitale is a professor of Russian language and literature at Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano. She is the author of numerous books and essays on Russian literature, and has also translated many Russian novels into Italian. Her acclaimed biographical work "Pushkin's" "Button" was translated into English in 1999.