The England We Know

Olga Kenton holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham, where she currently teaches in the Department of Modern Languages. Born in Moscow, she moved to New Zealand in her early twenties and has lived in Hong Kong, France, and the UK, where she currently resides. As a prose writer and journalist, Olga has taught Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham and published articles with leading Russian and Eastern European filmmakers, theatre directors, actors, writers, and artists. In addition to her published creative works, Olga's publications include reportage about the Christchurch earthquake (Discovery) and interviews with Andrey Zvyagintsev, Nikolas Pasternak-Slater, and Dolya Gavanski. Her novels include At the Edge of the World and The Girl from the House on Embankment.

"I'm very impressed by this powerful and brilliantly written project. The spy story is extraordinarily compelling, but the tales of ordinary and everyday struggles are equally fascinating and affecting. By turns deeply poignant, complex, funny and sad and ultimately so life-affirming. I feel enriched for having read it."Professor Luke Kennard, University of Birmingham "All in all, I found this a unique and fascinating account of the lives of Russian emigres. What fascinated me most were the back stories of these emigres, their lives as children, the memories and histories of their parents and grandparents and the very different world from which they emerged to the one they came to inhabit. An easy and appealing read."Tim Kelly, Coventry University "The episodic recurrence of memoir sections within the polyphonic structure is very effective. These sections are sensorily evocative and particularly well-written, with deceptively simple and conversational style."Dr Ellen Wiles, University of Exeter