16 books in 3 years | a New project of Workshops of Culture
Workshop of Culture in Publishing House in Lublin is expanding its literary horizons with the release of 16 new books, at least half of which will be published in both Polish and Ukrainian. The first titles are set to hit shelves this year, including “Czapeczka i wieloryb” (The Cap and the Whale) by Kateryna Babkina, “Charków 1938” (Kharkiv 1938) by Oleksandr Irvanets, and “Krótka historia ukraińskiego feminizmu” (A Short History of Ukrainian Feminism) by Mykola Yabchenko, Yulia Vus, and Ivan Kypibida.
About the project
We’re committed to highlighting the beauty and significance of the culture of our Eastern neighbours, now in a state of war. We want to offer Ukrainian refugees a source of solace through great literature.
The initial releases will include “Czapeczka i wieloryb,” a heartwarming tale of a boy battling leukemia and his whale companion, translated by Bohdan Zadura. Readers will also be captivated by “Charków 1938,” an alternate history of 20th-century Ukraine infused with elements of parody, irony, and satire, translated by Andrij Saweneć. Marking a new venture for the publishing house, the project also features graphic novels, including one that delves into the history of Ukrainian feminism in an informative yet thought-provoking manner, challenging stereotypes.
To foster deeper engagement with the literature, the project organizers plan a series of author events where readers can interact with Ukrainian authors and translators. Recognising the significance of translators’ contributions, the project aims to elevate their status as crucial co-creators of literary works, in line with literary theory’s concept of the “second author.”
We are planning to host a number of author meet’n’greet events, where literature fans will have the opportunity to connect with Ukrainian authors and translators. We recognise translators as vital co-creators. They bridge linguistic and cultural gaps, breathing life into the translated works. This project elevates their status as the “second authors” championed by literary theory. The project’s reach extends beyond Lublin, with plans to showcase the published works at prestigious book fairs in Poland and abroad, ensuring their visibility in print media and bookstores. These efforts will strengthen the international circulation and diversity of Ukrainian literature on the global literary stage. Meet’n’greet and discussions with writers, translators and interpreters
will be held during East of Culture – Different Sounds festival taking place in Lublin from June 27 to 30, 2024.
This project aligns with Lublin’s bid for the title of European Capital of Culture 2029.
The Literary Eastern Express project is supported by funding from the European Union’s Creative Europe programme
