Leipzig reads Ukraine
Largest European book fair will be open from March 14 to 17Family-like atmosphere and mainly young visitors characterize Leipzig Book Fair as opposed to the Frankfurt Book Fair.
In 2013 Ukraine presents its book stand at the Book Fair exhibition for the second time. The main improvement is that there are more books of all kinds. There is also more exposition area for writers, translators, publishers, and for various meetings. This year the Ukrainian delegation prepared an advanced interactive program for the visitors of the event called “Leipzig Reads Ukraine.” The program includes presentations of new books, discussion on literary and social topics between Ukrainian and foreign authors, video readings with German subtitles (both on the big screen and on tablet PCs), and presentations of IT innovations for learning and entertainment. For the four days guests of the fair will have a chance to talk to Ukrainian authors and read German translations of their books in the Literary Cafe. The list of Ukrainian literary “ambassadors” includes Serhii Zhadan, Natalka Sniadanko, Mariana Savka, Yurko Prokhasko, Nelia Vakhovska, Ostap Slyvynsky, Andrii Bondar, Kateryna Babkina, Hryhorii Semenchuk, Taras Malkovych, Sashko Dermansky, Halyna Malyk, Natalia Huzeieva, Maria Matios, Mykola Riabchuk, and others. Besides, the program includes presentation of the literary work of Oksana Zabuzhko, Yurii Andrukhovych, and Andrii Kurkov – the writers, whose books are in great demand in Germany.
There have also been published two anthologies of fragments from the writings of Ukrainian authors translated in German that were published specifically for the Leipzig Book Fair. New editions are different only in that the first one contained the works of this year’s participants of the fair from Ukraine, while the other one has a more comprehensive list of names that includes Larysa Denysenko, Tymofii Havryliv, Maryna Hrymych, Yevhenia Kononenko, Anton Kushnir, Irysia Lykovych, Halyna Pahutiak, and Yurii Vynnychko.
These books are intended to popularize modern Ukrainian literature (prose and poetry, children’s books and books for teenagers) in Europe, therefore, they will be distributed as informational products.
Ukraine was invited to participate in this year’s book event by the directorate of the Leipzig Book Fair. Curator of the “Transit” program Martin Pollack strongly supports Ukrainian and Belarusian literature in Germany. This year the partners of Ukrainian delegation are NGO “Publisher’s Forum,” Ukrainian IT Company “Eleks,” and Charity Foundation “Development of Ukraine.”
“Transit 2012” turned out to be especially productive: the stand and events with Ukrainian writers were attended by more than a thousand guests, German mass media covered the event with numerous publications, and the number of people who wanted to attend the meeting with Serhii Zhadan where he presented his Dogs in Space was three times greater than the hall could accommodate.
