Anna Lawton, born in Italy, was a professor of Russian literature at Purdue University, and later taught courses in visual culture and film studies at Georgetown University. She is the author of three scholarly books, and numerous articles and essays in academic collections. Her book, Imaging Russia 2000: Film and Facts, received the CHOICE Award as Outstanding Academic Title 2005. Her first novel, Family Album, was published in Italy, and is currently being translated into English. She lives in Washington, D.C.
