MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: ASIA HOUSE

The Asia House Festival of Asian Literature is the only festival in the UK dedicated to writing about Asia and Asians and runs from 5th-27th May 2010 at Asia House

The Evolution of Pakistani Fiction:
With Aamer Hussein – Another Gulmohar Tree and Ali Sethi - The Wish Maker
on Tuesday 13 April, 6.45pm

Asia House Festival of Asian Literature- Pre-Festival Series
Two generations of Pakistani authors engage in a lively, wide ranging debate on Pakistani fiction - from Manto to the writers of the 21st century.

Born in Pakistan, Aamer Hussein has lived in Britain since 1970. He has published 5 books of short stories as well as his novella, Another Gulmohar Tree. As a Pakistani author, translator and reviewer, he is well placed to observe the development of Pakistani fiction as a genre.

Ali Sethi, one of the newest young writers in Pakistan today, has a special interest in both English and Urdu writing and is fascinated by the Urdu women's journals where radical writing is developing a rapidly growing audience.

Aamer Hussein and Ali Sethi will be appearing on BBC4 news on the 12th of April in a short interview about the subject of their talk at Asia House. Don't miss the opportunity to hear them talk at length about this important area of south-Asian fiction.

Tickets: Asia House Members £5, Concessions £6 & Others £10.

The Gulf: Growth and Recession
A talk with Christopher Davidson and Jim Krane on Tuesday 20 April, 6.45pm

Over the past decades, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have grown from desert sheikhdoms to economic phenomenon. But since the onset of global recession, these cities have suffered economically and socially more than any place on earth.

Gulf experts Davidson and Krane look at the factors that led to enormous successes and those that could, in the near future, impede economic growth and undermine political and social stability.

Christopher Davidson, author of Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond is a fellow of the Institute for Middle Eastern Studies at Durham University and former assistant professor of politics at Sheikh Zayed University in Abu Dhabi.

Jim Krane, author of Dubai: The World’s Fastest City, is an award-winning journalist, and was the Associated Press’s Persian Gulf Correspondent covering all six Gulf Arab countries.

Tickets: £10, Concessions: £6, Asia House Friends: £5

Magical tales from cultures across Asia:

Saturday 8th May - The family events kick off with Stories from the Silk Road by Cherry Gilchrist. Storyteller Seema Anand will transport (children 7-10 years of age) to the bazaars, caravans and camel paths of Central Asia and Western China with an interactive tale of intrigue.

Saturday 15th May - The destination is Iran with children’s author Elizabeth Laird reading from her stunningly illustrated book, Pea Boy, accompanied by Iranian musicians (for children 5-11 years of age).

Saturday 22nd May - A visual tour of the customs and children’s festivals in Pakistan. Discover photographer Prodeepta Das’s alphabet book, P is for Pakistan (children 4-7 years of age).

For booking: 020 7307 5454 or enquiries@asiahouse.co.uk
Venue: Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP

For more information visit the Festival of Asian Literature here.