The London Book Fair has announced that Ukraine will be the "Guest Spotlight" during the fair in 2023.
The focus on Ukraine will be reflected in a series of events developed together with organizations:
- Ukrainian Book Institute;
- English PEN;
- Association of Publishers;
- International Publishers Association (IPA);
- British Council.
The fair will discuss how Ukrainian writers responded to the Russian attack, the role of books in countering disinformation and supporting democracy, women's voices in discussions about the war, and writing from the battlefield. Stand B201 will be dedicated to book publishing in Ukraine today.
Among the authors who will talk about Ukraine are Olesya Khromechuk, Maryana Savka, Luke Harding, Victoria Amelina, Oleksandr Mykhed, Yaryna Chornoguz, Orysya Lutsevich, Kateryna Babkina, Tetyana Teren, Nina Murray, Tanya Tuma, Iva Pezuashvili, Paul Robert Magocsi and Vladyslav Davidzon.
Karine Pansa, president of the International Publishers Association, emphasized: "At the recent IPA event on the situation with freedom of speech in Ukraine, all our speakers in Ukrainian were straightforward: 'you can support us by continuing to work with us as equals, by licensing our books, by leaving us part of the international book sector". It is good to see that the London Book Fair is doing this and providing Ukrainian publishers with the means to continue cooperation with international colleagues, despite the brutality of the war they are facing at home."
Selected events from the fair program dedicated to Ukraine:
- April 18, 9:30, Focus Theater. "Guest Spotlight welcome: Opening ceremony. Ukraine"
- April 18, 1:30 p.m., English PEN Literary Salon. "Art After War: The Future of Ukrainian Literature"
- April 19, 3:30 p.m., English PEN Literary Salon. "You can't keep the truth quiet: how the Ukrainian publishing market works during the war"
- April 20, 9:30, English PEN Literary Salon. "Prove who you are: the face of Ukrainian culture today"
- April 20, 1:15 p.m., English PEN Literary Salon. "Writers on the Frontline: Stories from Ukraine"
