2022 Invasion of Ukraine

also available as a free e-book on Internet Archive

Ilya Kaminsky wrote the introduction ("Barometers") to this anthology of war poems.

This book won the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Metcalf Award, among other prizes.

This is Kaminsky's latest book of poetry.

Kaminsky's fairy tale is titled "Little Pot."

Kamisky's contribution to this chapbook is titled "We Lived Happily During the War."

Recent Ukrainian poetry — Translations into English. "A passionate intensity moves through the subjective, intimate voice of the poems of Natalka Bilotserkivets."

"Little Starhorodivka, a village of three streets, lies in Ukraine's Grey Zone, the no-man's-land between loyalist and separatist forces. Thanks to the lukewarm war of sporadic violence and constant propaganda that has been dragging on for years, only two residents remain: retired safety inspector turned beekeeper Sergey Sergeyich and Pashka, a rival from his schooldays. With little food and no electricity, under constant threat of bombardment, Sergeyich's one remaining pleasure is his bees. As spring approaches, he knows he must take them far from the Grey Zone so they can collect their pollen in peace. This simple mission on their behalf introduces him to combatants and civilians on both sides of the battle lines: loyalists, separatists, Russian occupiers and Crimean Tatars. Wherever he goes, Sergeyich's childlike simplicity and strong moral compass disarm everyone he meets. But could these qualities be manipulated to serve an unworthy cause, spelling disaster for him, his bees and his country?" (book jacket).

Recent Ukrainian poetry — Translations into English

"The stories in Ukrainian film director, writer, and dissident Oleg Sentsov’s debut collection are as much acts of dissent as they are acts of creative expression. These autobiographical stories display a mix of nostalgia and philosophical insight, written in a simple yet profound style looking back on a life's path that led Sentsov to become an internationally renowned dissident artist. Sentsov's charges seemingly stem from his opposition to Russia's invasion and occupation of eastern Ukraine where he lived in the Crimea. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in August 2015 on spurious terrorism charges after he was kidnapped in his house and put through a grossly unfair trial by a Russian military court, marred by allegations of torture" (book jacket).

"Masterfully fulfilled by Peter Fedynsky, Voice of America journalist and expert on Ukrainian studies, this first ever English translation of the complete Kobzar brings out Ukraine's rich cultural heritage. As a foundational text, The Kobzar has played an important role in galvanizing the Ukrainian identity and in the development of Ukraine’s written language and Ukrainian literature" (book jacket).

"Apricots of Donbas is a bilingual collection by award-winning contemporary Ukrainian poet Lyuba Yakimchuk. Born and raised in a small coal-mining town in Ukraine's industrial east, Yakimchuk lost her family home in 2014 when the region was occupied by Russian-backed militants and her parents and sister were forced to flee as refugees. Reflecting her complex emotional experiences, Yakimchuk's poetry is versatile, ranging from sumptuous verses about the urgency of erotic desire in a war-torn city to imitations of childlike babbling about the tools and toys of military combat. Playfulness in the face of catastrophe is a distinctive feature of Yakimchuk's voice, evoking the legacy of the Ukrainian Futurists of the 1920s. The poems' artfulness go hand in hand with their authenticity, offering intimate glimpses into the story of a woman affected by a life-altering situation beyond her control" (book jacket).

"Themes of love and hatred and violence and comfort are explored in stream of consciousness writing style."

historical fiction (Ukraine)

Zabuzhko's "I, Milena" appears in this fiction anthology.

These "politically charged" short stories "veer into the surreal and supernatural, following Ukrainians during personal and political inflection points" (New York Times).

"A unique work of fiction from the troubled streets of Ukraine, giving invaluable testimony to the new history unfolding in the nation's post-independence years. This captivating book is Serhiy Zhadan's ode to Kharkiv, the traditionally Russian-speaking city in Eastern Ukraine where he makes his home."

"This novel follows a character named Herman who travels to Donbas in search of his missing brother" (New York Times).

These poems treat the social life and customs of Ukraine.

Buchach (Ukraine), personal narratives

Autobiography/personal narrative of a survivor of Stalin's terror-famine (holodomor), 1932-1933.

v. 1 Old Scandinavian sources other than the sagas (i.e., Old Norse literature)

Biographies of early Christian saints of Ukraine. "The most detailed source for the monastery early history is its Paterik, a thirteenth-century compilation containing stories reaching back to the monastery's foundation in the mid-eleventh century."

personal narratives