Three years have already passed since the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian army into Ukraine. Millions of people have faced displacement, sorrow, and violence.
Since 2022, we have launched projects to promote the Ukrainian language and culture. To express our solidarity with Ukrainian scholars, we introduced the Ukrainian-Language Open Access Series. This initiative is meticulously coordinated with esteemed professionals and scholars based in Ukraine, who select the most relevant academic works. Most importantly, all translations will be made available digitally for free as open-access publications.
We are also happy to introduce Ukrainian language books to English-speaking audiences. We will continue our efforts, regardless of what happens on the front line, as we believe that Ukrainian culture has its own independent and sovereign place.
Here is a message from our Ukrainian Language Acquisitions Editor, Mariia Shuvalova:
It’s been physically, intellectually, and operationally the most challenging years, which brought embodied knowledge that small, repetitive, and adaptive actions of ordinary people, support, and communication are the biggest power. Before the level of national or international systems and institutions, justice first arises in our small communities by how we react, and what we choose and accept. After 11 years of war and 3 years of full-scale invasion, we again react with humble understanding of our vulnerability and choice to stay, work, resist, volunteer, speak, and not accept injustice. Liberation starts from each of us, from our small choices and dedication to carry them through decades with you.
Read about Ukraine, and you’ll experience it as physically, intellectually, and operationally challenging, but persisting as well.
One possible act of solidarity is active reading and listening. Today is the perfect day to start your journey into Ukrainian culture. Below, you’ll find a list of books that uncover stories from different regions of Ukraine, highlighting its long and unique history.
Ukrainian Sunrise: Stories of the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions from the Early 2000s
by Kateryna Zarembo
If you want to learn more about Donetsk and Luhansk and follow the story of Eastern Ukraine—this book is a perfect choice. “Zarembo’s approach ensures that the voices of those in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts are heard directly—she serves not as an interpreter, but as a conduit for their stories.” —Kate Tsurkan, The Kyiv Independent
Words for War: New Poems from Ukraine
Edited by Oksana Maksymchuk and Max Rosochinsky
This anthology brings together modern poetic voices from various regions of Ukraine. It showcases the rich diversity and depth of Ukrainian poetry, highlighting the unique perspectives and experiences of poets from different parts of the country. Moreover, it serves as a testament to the resilience and cultural heritage of its people.
Dnipro: An Entangled History of a European City
by Andrii Portnov
Recipient of the 2022 Ab Imperio Award for Excellence in New Imperial History and the Study of Diversity in Northern Eurasia.
This pioneering English-language synthesis on the history of Dnipro (formerly known as Dnipropetrovsk until 2016, and Katerynoslav until 1926) situates the city within broader regional, national, and transnational contexts. It delves into the dynamic interplay between global processes and the everyday rhythms of urban life. Embark on a captivating journey to central Ukraine with this insightful book.
The Dreamtime: A Novel
by Mstyslav Chernov
The Dreamtime masterfully combines elements of documentary and military fiction, drawing from the author’s firsthand experiences as an award-winning war correspondent. This gripping novel presents a raw and unflinching portrayal of war through four interwoven narratives, offering readers a distinctive and gritty perspective on its horrors.
Mstyslav Chernov’s film “20 Days in Mariupol” won the Best Documentary Oscar in 2022.
Cosmopolitan Spaces in Odesa: A Case Study of an Urban Context
Edited by Mirja Lecke and Efraim Sicher
This groundbreaking book is the first to explore Odesa’s cosmopolitan spaces within an urban context from the nineteenth to twenty-first centuries. Odesa is a unique city where Jewish, Ukrainian, and Russian cultures have historically enriched each other. However, issues of interethnic tensions, imperialist repression, and language choice have not lost their relevance today.
Visionaries from Lviv: The Story of a Jewish Hospital
Edited by Ewa Herbst
This book marks the 120th anniversary of the Lazarus Jewish Hospital in Lviv. This richly illustrated book explores the hospital’s history, its founder Maurycy Lazarus, and its significant impact on the Jewish community and society from 1903 to 1939. It also delves into the history of medicine in Habsburg Galicia and the vital contributions of Jewish professionals.