Krakow: welcome to the C91 booth!

A little over a month ago four novelties of Den’s Library had been presented at the Forum of Publishers. The demand in Lviv dispelled any possible doubts on whether the books will find their audience. After that, dozens of presentations across the country has followed. “The Trap,” or A Case without a Statute of Limitations (compiled by Ivan Kapsamun) from the “Contemporary History for Dummies” series has been sold out almost immediately. Other publications did not lag behind: Return to Tsarhorod (compiled by Ihor Siundiukov), Catastrophe and Triumph. The Stories of Ukrainian Heroes (compiled by Maria Semenchenko) and I, an Eyewitness. Notes from the Occupied Luhansk by Valentyn Torba. The most recent days saw multiple significant events. Larysa Ivshyna, editor-in-chief of Den/The Day, had introduced the novelties to students and faculty of the Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European National University in Lutsk; and Ihor Siundiukov, editor of “History and I” section of Den newspaper took part in the discussion on the Return to Tsarhorod, held in Chernihiv Center for Re-Qualification and Improving of Skills of the Personnel. Additionally, Den’s books were the focus of the international “Zaporizhia Book Fair.”

The new items have also entered the list of best publications on the Ukrainian booth at the largest literary publishing forum in the world – the Frankfurt Book Fair, which is ongoing in Germany. According to Liudmyla Kychenko, director of ADEF bookselling group, the interest in the Ukrainian books has been surprisingly large despite modest setting of the Ukrainian stand. And that interest comes not only from the Diaspora. “Our booth has been approached by people from many countries – Germans, Bulgarians, Swedes...” says Kychenko. “The visitors were interested in books about the war in Donbas, about Ukrainian history. And as Den explores these topics among others in its novelties, they have met a considerable demand. Some Forum guests were purposefully searching for these particular publications. It seems that a translation to the Return to Tsarhorod could be very popular in the West, because the topics discussed in the books are of interest to many of today’s readers. The Ukrainian booth has been often compared to the Russian one, which is located nearby. It’s nice to see positive reviews about Ukrainian publications in the German television. Meeting with Ukrainian writers has been gathering full houses. Some visitors have just wanted to express their support for Ukraine and Ukrainian literature.”

FRANKFURT. OCTOBER 17, 2015 / Photo courtesy of the ADEF-Ukraine Publishing House

And starting this Thursday, October 22, the books from Den’s Library will be available for purchase at the 19th International Book Fair in Krakow. In addition to the aforementioned novelties, there will also be Ukraine Incognita. TOP 25 (both in English and Russian); The Power of the Soft Sign, or the Return of Rus’ka Pravda; Day and Eternity of James Mace (in English), and Wars and Peace, or Ukrainians and Poles: Brothers/Enemies, Neighbors (in Polish). It will be possible to buy the books of Den’s Library at the booth of Ukrainian publishing houses, No. C91. The Forum in Krakow will be going on through Sunday, October 25.