An 800-year-old city with a century’s status as capital of an independent Latvia provides an interesting cultural history for its writers.

The stories gathered in The Book of Riga, published by Manchester’s Comma Press, chronicle Riga’s growth and on-going transformation, and offer glimpses into the dark humour, rich history, contrasting perspectives, and love of the mythic, that sets the city’s artistic community apart.

Dace Rukšāne is a Latvian writer who became well known in 2002 for her novel, The Little Affair. She has also written plays, poetry and the novels Bedtime Stories of Beatrice, and Why were you Crying?

Sven Kuzmins hosts a weekly literary show on Latvian Radio 1, and is one of the creators of the NERTEN sketch theatre project. His first collection of stories, Urban Shamans, was accompanied by his own graphic drawings.

Join us to find out more about this imaginative city. Hosted by Comma editor Ra Page.