Join us to hear Harriet Crawley discuss her latest novel, a love story and political thriller, with the former British ambassador to Russia, Sir Roderic Lyne. The Times has included The Translator in its list of “the best new thrillers”, and the reviews praise author’s descriptions of the everyday life in Moscow, her ability to create suspense, and the political relevance of the plot at the time when the Russian state has once again become a major geopolitical threat.
The Translator tells a story of two interpreters, one British and one Russian, who embark on a quest to protect vital communication infrastructure connecting the UK and the US from sabotage by Russian special operations forces.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Harriet Crawley has been a journalist, writer and art dealer, worked in television and radio, and she stood for the Westminster and European Parliaments. A fluent Russian speaker, Harriet was married to a Russian, sent her son to state school in Moscow, and worked for almost twenty years in the energy sector. She speaks five languages and this is her fifth book.
Sir Roderic Lyne, KBE CMG, is a former British diplomat who served in various positions from 1970 to 2004. Among his roles, he served as Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister (1993-6), UK Ambassador to international organisations in Geneva (1997-2000) and UK Ambassador to Russia (2000-04). Sir Roderic subsequently served as a member of the Iraq Inquiry (2009-16); Deputy Chairman of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (2008-16); and Chairman of the Governors of Kingston University.