'Oi, Did The Kremlin Make My Stalin Book Disappear?'

Yesterday the Russian publishing house Atticus cancelled the publication of an acclaimed book by the Russian scholar Orlando Figes about life under Stalin. The publisher said it was dropping the book for economic reasons, but the historian believes that the decision was the product of political pressure and reflects a desire by the Kremlin to rehabilitate Stalin. At a conference in June 2007, Vladimir Putin called on Russia's schoolteachers to portray the Stalin period in a more positive light. It was Stalin who made Soviet Union great, who won the war against Hitler, and his "mistakes" were no worse than the crimes of western states, he said.

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Archive Collapse

The collapse of the Historical Archive of Cologne on Tuesday buried more than a millenium's worth of documents under tons of rubble. Archivists and historians hope something can be salvaged, but the future of the city's past is grim. Disaster struck in Cologne on Tuesday, as the building housing the city's Historical Archive suddenly collapsed. According to city officials, two people are officially missing and believed dead. And hundreds of firefighters were on the scene Wednesday looking for survivors as Cologne historians and archivists mourned the apparent destruction of Germany's largest municipal archive.

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Sundays at the Oto

Sunday 15th March, 3 - 5pm

• Uru-Ana
• Paul Taylor's Trombone Poetry
• Mike Weller

Cafe Oto, 18-22 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL Admission: £4

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Iain Sinclair Tours Fictional Hackney

A brief 7-minute video tour of Hackney, London, by Iain Sinclair, who The Guardian just can't get enough of at the moment. Must be all that sports stuff going on in the East End.

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SOS

© The New Yorker

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Screen Reading

Who knew that hyphenation could be so interesting?

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Xing the Line Special

Thursday 5th March, 7.30 pm

• Tim Atkins
• Sean Bonney
• Harry Gilonis
• Jeff Hilson
• Frances Kruk
• Mendoza
• Ben Watson
• Steve Willey
• Michael J Weller
• Johan de Wit
• Others TBA

POST-CARCERAL PAUL PARTY: A FUNDRAISER FOR PAUL SUTTON As many of you know, Paul spent the Xmas period banged up in Belmarsh Maximum Security Prison. We thought we’d raise him some cash to make up for his dismal ordeal! There’ll also be a bookstall the proceeds of which will go to Paul. Please bring anything you want to sell! The Leather Exchange, 15 Leathermarket Street, London Bridge, SE1 3HN Admission: £5

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Sean Bonney & Frances Kruk Benefit Reading

event organised by Tim Atkins

filmed by Stephen Willey

edited and uploaded by Stephen Willey, Alex Davies

A benefit reading for poets Sean Bonney and Frances Kruk was held on 5th June 2008 at the Leather Exchange, London. Stephen Willey recorded the entire event. This project presents 32 videos of the poets that read, in chronological order. Scroll down for recordings.

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Sean Bonney & Frances Kruk Benefit Reading - Introductions

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Sean Bonney & Frances Kruk Benefit Reading - Karlien van den Beukel

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