In Latvia, a print collection of translations of poetry by Ukrainian author-soldiers has appeared, and in Hungary a collection of Liubov Yakymchuk’s poems, “Apricots of Donbas”.
Literary media report on this event, highlighting new translations and publishing shifts.
In the Latvian cultural magazine, poems by Artur Dron, Fedor Rudoy, Yulia (Taira) Payevska, Ihor Mitrov, and Serhiy Rubnykovych were published.
The foreword to the publication was written by translator Mara Polyakova.
“Do not ask of heroes that which you yourself are not capable of” – that is how the anthology of war poetry “Frontmen” begins, which was published last year. These lines from the poem by Mykola Kulynych could have only emerged there – on the war. Each word in military poetry has withstood the test of reality, they are physically incompatible with fakery. Military poetry is the direct voice of reality. These translations are the least we can do to honor and thank for service – and to remember those colleagues from the literary community who are no longer with us
– Mara Polyakova
Translations and authors in Latvia
From Ukrainian, poetry was translated by Olesya Burkevych, Raivis Kapilinsky, Mara Polyakova, Justina Vernera and Linda Vituma.
The collection of Liubov Yakymchuk’s poems “Apricots of Donbas” was published in Hungarian by Prae Kiadó.
The translation was done by Diana Vonnak – a Hungarian poet, social anthropologist, and translator.
“Wastelands, mines, factory chimneys. And armored personnel carriers. Through Liubov Yakymchuk’s eyes, Donbas appears as a bittersweet, expansive modern fairy tale – a place where one can again pick up the thread of Ukrainian avant-garde, and at the same time a home that was lost, occupied, more than ten years ago. Instead of forcibly restoring integrity, the author creates a new language from repetitions, linguistic slips, and wordplay. This new voice guides a diary of the year when everything changed. It is rare to find such a strong and unique voice in contemporary European poetry”
– as stated in the annotation to the Hungarian edition
The cover was created based on the original. For the Ukrainian edition, designer and illustrator Oksana Yorish worked on it.
“Apricots of Donbas” was published in Ukrainian translation in the Old Lion edition in 2015.
The collection received high acclaim from readers for its ability to convey the atmosphere of war and the corresponding national context in contemporary Ukrainian literature.
In 2018 the collection was published in Polish, and in 2019 – in Estonian.
In particular, interest in publications by Ukrainian author-soldiers remains and spurs translations in different countries, expanding international recognition of Ukrainian literature during the war.