This year within the Book Fair More Countries – More Books project it was the first time in the Book Fair’s history that the contemporary Ukrainian literature was presented. Ukraine, represented by the Ukrainian Association of Publishers and Booksellers (UAPB), was registered in the catalogue of Paris Book Fair as a participating country.
Promotion of Ukrainian literature over the world is vitally important since thanks to the works of Ukrainian novelists the image of Ukraine is created internationally. This is why Arseniy Yatseniuk Open Ukraine Foundation provides the Ukrainian artists with an opportunity to present their achievements to the world.
Therefore, with the support of the Open Ukraine Foundation a delegation of Ukrainian writers was led by Mykola Kravchenko, Head of the Board of Book Space civic organization. «If 20 years ago being a research analyst at one of the institutes that dealt with ‘defense’ theme, I was told that one day in Paris I would moderate presentation of Ukrainian artists” it would have been considered at best as a bad joke”, - said Mykola Kravchenko, - “however, what seemed to be a joke yesterday it came true today”.
Presentation of modern Ukrainian literature took place on March 16 at the Paris Book Fair with participation of seven Ukrainian authors: Maria Matios, Tymofiy Havryliv, Larysa Denysenko, Yevgeniya Kononenko, Anton Kushnir, Iryna Lykovych and Yevgen Polozhіy. During the presentation, the “Almanac of Modern Ukrainian Literature” in French language was introduced. The almanac included fragments of works in French by 16 Ukrainian authors: Tymofiy Havryliv, Larysa Denysenko, Anatoliy Dnistroviy, Oksana Zabuzhko, Vasyl Kozhelyanko, Yevgeniya Kononenko, Leonid Kononovych, Anton Kushnir, Irysya Lykovych, Lada Luzina, Maria Matios, Yevgen Polozhіy, Iren Rozdobudko, Ivan Ryabchiy, Natalka Snyadanko and Dmytro Chystyak. Nine translators participated in preparing the almanac. The publication was an attempt first of all to introduce French publishers and literary agent to such phenomena as a literary process in contemporary Ukraine, and provide them with an opportunity to feel ‘a taste’ of not only well-known authors but also of young authors who make their first artistic steps although already gained their awards at high-prestige national literature competitions.
Mykola Kravchenko added: ”The nearest plans of More Countries – More Books project are publishing the similar almanac in Norwegian language and presenting it on May 29 – June 2 in Lillehammer (Norway) where the Norwegian Festival of Literature takes place as well as getting prepared for the European Books Festival of Cognac (in France, in November this year) where Ukraine is invited a Guest of Honour. It will be the first time that such a status is given to a EU non-member country”.
For the first time Ukraine is represented by a separate stand at Paris Book Fair
02 April 2012, 13:53
Paris Book Fair (Salon du Livre), one of the biggest book exhibitions/fairs, took place on 16–19 March 2012 in France, where for the first time in the Fair’s history contemporary Ukrainian literature was presented. Representatives over 40 countries, approximately 2000 authors, more than 1000 publishers were participated at the Book Fair; it hosted 500 various events and was attended by almost 190000 book fans.
