Featuring eight writers - eight women - from six countries - from the Basque coast at Donostia, to Slovakia, to Romania, to Germany, to Turkey and from Wales - the Parthian Europa Carnivale project represents a collection of new European fiction and poetry, written by some of the most talented contemporary female authors writing today.

The eight books chosen tackle a number of extremely important or relevant themes, some of them universal despite their foundations in differing languages, histories and cultures. These writers have woven the tales of a number of extraordinary women challenged by religion, health, love, war and politics; from The Equestrienne’s feeble Karolina, whose passion for trick-riding is threatened by the goliath that is capitalism, to My Mother’s Hands’s Nerea, who must battle more intimate, personal demons in the face of her mother’s amnesia, each story, be it long or short, showcases a masterful depiction of the human spirit in the face of adversity and oppression.

Parthian Europa Carnivale, which began with the publication of Goldfish Memory by Monique Schwitter in Spring 2015, has eight books either published or in the process of translation, with new voices being discussed for 2017. The books already released have garnered critical acclaim and a wealth of prestigious prizes, including the PEN International/New Voices Award, the Beterriko liburua, the Rotahornpreis and, most recently, the PEN Translates Award.

Parthian authors, John Harrison and Rebecca F. John, winner of the PEN International New Voices Award 2015, will be travelling later this month with Parthian editor, Susie Wild, to the Guadalajara book fair, where the UK is guest of honour. Their presence is supported by British Council Wales.