Chejov vs. Shakespeare: Europe, identity, culture and language in 12 letters

Chejov vs. Shakespeare is one of the initiatives of the #ScotlandGoesBasque programme, organised by the Etxepare Basque Institute, that will travel to the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August. Basque writer Iban Zaldua and Scottish writer James Robertson will present the results of the project they have been working on over the previous months.

Chejov vs. Shakespeare is one of the initiatives of the #ScotlandGoesBasque programme, organised by the Etxepare Basque Institute, that will travel to the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August. Basque writer Iban Zaldua and Scottish writer James Robertson will present the results of the project they have been working on over the previous months.

The Chejov vs. Shakespeare project emerged as part of the Donostia / San Sebastián 2016 European Cultural Capital. Back then, several Basque authors exchanged correspondence with writers from different places to talk about a wide range of topics. #ScotlandGoesBasque picked up where the project left off by entrusting Iban Zaldua and James Robertson with writing six letters each and sending them to each other. In the letters they were to exchange thoughts and perspectives on the challenges and conflicts in Europe today. The two writers started giving shape to the project in February, and by mid-June, they had already written all the letters in which they addressed topics such as socio-political issues of Basque and Scottish cultures. They also talked about their own languages, Basque and Scots, and their literature. They also analysed the consequences of Brexit and the tragedy of refugees in the Mediterranean.

Iban Zaldua and James Robertson will present this collection of letters to the audience on August 10^th as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival programme, in an event at Garden Theatre located at the festival. The collection of letters will later be published in a book.

Writer Iban Zaldua explains the Chejov vs. Shakespeare project in this video.