«Komora» Publishing House was established in 2013. One of the co-founders is a Ukrainian-British «Komora» company, a leading provider of musical equipment on the Ukrainian market and funder of several cultural projects (including «Chervona Ruta» and «Rock-Existence» festivals, the «Telniuk Sisters» band, «SELMER-Paris in Ukraine» International clarinet & saxophone contest etc.).
The motto of the publishing house is «Only what remains». It reflects our policy and business strategy, which we bring to the book market: we publish high-quality printed books, meant for personal libraries and several generations of readers. After nine years of work, the catalogue of «Komora» includes over 90 books, and we may proudly state that none of them is mediocre! «Komora» is a reliable brand of a first-rate cultural product.
We specialize in Ukrainian and world fiction and non-fiction, both classical and contemporary. Our mission is to introduce Ukrainian audience to attention-worthy (and also not widely promoted) names, events and trends, thus contributing to the growth of national reading standards, bringing them to the level of the most literate countries. Our publishing portfolio is developed by «Komora» Supervising Committee, which invites leading consultants, theorists of literature, literary agents and translators from Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Canada, the USA and many others. Oksana Zabuzhko, a renowned writer and top-author of «Komora», whose books were translated in 20 countries, is the Head of the Supervising Committee.
Even the pickiest reader will find something interesting in our «komora» (UA word for a store house, get it?). We are actively working on projects, essential for a modern intellectual: the first unabridged edition of Lesya Ukrainka’s letters in 3 volumes, a translation of «Communism and the Dilemmas of National Liberation: National Communism in Soviet Ukraine, 1918–1933» by James E. Mace (a prominent monograph in Western politology), a fundamental research «Philosophical Thought of the Crimean Khanate» by M. Yakubovych and so on. Our best-selling authors are classics of the 20th century — Václav Havel, Svetlana Alexievich, V. Domontovych.
In our popular translated series we gathered a selection of Central European novels, a formerly unknown segment in Ukraine. «Komora» was the first to introduce such starring authors of Central and Eastern European literature as Ivo Brešan (Croatia), Goran Petrović (Serbia), Jacek Dehnel (Poland), Pavol Rankov (Slovakia), Slavenka Drakulić (Croatia), Miljenko Jergović (Croatia), Bohumil Hrabal (Czech Republic), Carmen Laforet (Spain), Nino Haratischwili (Georgia, Germany), Radka Denemarková (Czech Republic). The quality of Ukrainian texts is achieved by the masters of translation: Alla Tatarenko, Andriy Bondar, Roksolana Sviato, Yurii Zub, Tetiana Okopna, Olena Feshovets and others.
Stay with «Komora», and we will help you satisfy your intellectual hunger and discover new worlds in art and literature, which are worthy of love.
His research interests include the history of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1921, the anti-Bolshevik insurgent movement of 1920, Ukrainian political emigration, the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine, and Soviet state security agencies in 1920-1930.
Oksana Zabuzhko is a renowned Ukrainian writer, author of 20 books of several genres (poetry, prose, essays, critic studies). She graduated from the faculty of Philosophy of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, has a doctoral degree in Aesthetics, is a Candidate of Philosophical Sciences and a senior scientist researcher of NASU Institute of Philology. In the beginning of 1990s she professed Ukrainistics in the USA (Universities of Harvard, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh).
Zabuzhko’s writings were translated in more than 20 countries, cinematized, adapted for the stage and put to music. She is an awardee of several prestigious awards and prizes, including Angelus Novel of the Year for «Museum of the lost secrets» published in Polish.
Poetry
- May Frost (1985)
- The Conductor of the Last Candle (1990)
- Hitchhiking (1994)
- Second Attempt (2005)
Prose
- Field Work in Ukrainian Sex (1996)
- Sister, Sister (2003)
- The Museum of Abandoned Secrets (2009)
- Yet Again I’m Getting into a Tank (2016)
- After the Second Ring the Entrance to the Hall is Prohibited (2017)
Non-fiction
- The Fortinbras Chronicles (1999)
- Let my People Go: 15 Texts About Ukrainian Revolution (2005)
- Notre Dame d’Ukraine: Ukrayinka in the Conflict of Mythologies (2007)
- Planet Pauline (2020)
- How the cherry orchard was cutting down, or the Long Road from Bad Ems (2021)
- Angelus Novel of the Year
- Taras Shevchenko National Prize
- Antonovych Foundation Prize
- BBC Book of the Year
Yaroslav Faizulin is a historian and researcher of modern Ukrainian history. Author of more than 100 scientific and popular science works on the history of Ukraine, including publications: «Yuri Tyutyunnyk. Documents and materials» (2011), «Ukraine. In the fire of the last century: people, events, versions» (2015), «Repressed diaries. The Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine» (2018), «Andriy Livytsky. Correspondence (1919-1953)» (2019), «President of the Ukrainian People’s Republic Andriy Livytsky: lawyer and politician against the background of the era» (2020) and others.
His research interests include the history of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1921, the anti-Bolshevik insurgent movement of 1920, Ukrainian political emigration, the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine, and Soviet state security agencies in 1920-1930.
- Yuri Tyutyunnyk. Documents and materials (2011)
- Ukraine. In the fire of the last century: people, events, versions (2015)
- Repressed diaries. The Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine (2018)
- Andriy Livytsky. Correspondence (1919-1953) (2019)
- President of the Ukrainian People’s Republic Andriy Livytsky: lawyer and politician against the background of the era (2020)
- History.UA: figures, facts, versions (Komora, 2021)
Kateryna Babkina is one of the brightest stars of modern Ukrainian literature, a renowned writer, columnist, journalist and screenwriter. She regularly contributes to a number of Ukrainian and international media including Esquire, Le Monde, Harper’s Bazaar, Kenyon Review and Washington Square Review. Her books have already been translated into 11 languages. A German translation of «Sonia» was published in Austria in 2016, and «Happy naked people» came out in Poland in 2018.
- Lights of St. Elm (2002)
- Lilou after you (2008)
- Mustard (2011)
- Sonia (2013)
- Painkillers and soporifics (2014)
- Pumpkin year (2014)
- A hat and a whale (2015)
- Happy naked people (2016)
- Enchanted for love (2017)
- Our birds and what disturbs them (2018)
- My Grandfather danced better than anyone (Komora, 2019)
- The habit of writing (Komora, 2020)
- Doesn’t hurt. Poetry (Komora, 2021)
- Angelus Novel of the Year
Tamara Martsenyuk is a Ukrainian sociologist, gender researcher, PhD of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor of Sociology, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Gender Expert of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union. Author of more than 100 scientific works, a number of journalistic articles, sections of textbooks and books. She teaches author’s courses on gender issues, is engaged in educational activism, conducts trainings for a wide target audience: journalists, analysts, politicians, civil servants, public activists and others. Autor assists NGOs and analytical centers to develop internal policies of non-discrimination and gender equality. She shares the idea of public sociology – science and research for social change, so she is constantly involved in various international research or teaching projects.
- Gender in Details. Challenging the Stereotypes (2017)
- Why One Should Not Be Afraid of Feminism (Komora, 2018)
- Defenders of the Galaxy: Power and Crisis in the Male World (Komora, 2020)
- Gender equality and non-discrimination in practice (Komora, 2021)
Founder and editor-in-chief of the project «Ukraine Incognita» , author of local lore books and guides «UNESCO World Heritage in Ukraine», «10 countries after quarantine», «12 routes through Kyiv region», «67 stops in Cherkasy region», an experienced traveler.
- UNESCO World Heritage in Ukraine (Komora, 2021)
- 10 countries after quarantine
- 12 routes through Kyiv region
- 67 stops in Cherkasy region
Ukrainian writer and gastronomic journalist. She was born in Chernihiv. She worked as a presenter and journalist on Ukrainian TV and radio channels (Public Radio, Radio Svoboda, Breakfast with 1 + 1). The first book, a collection of feature stories about Armenia «Uncle Zaven’s Fish», was published by Tempora in 2019 and was included in the long list of the LitAccent of the Year award. The author’s works have been awarded special prizes in the Samovydets art reporting contest: “On the Other Side of the Holiday” (in the Life in the Cities collection, 2019) and the Cross (in the How We Change collection, 2020). Founder of the first Ukrainian-language blog Karifood about delicious travels in Ukraine and the world. Contributes to the publication of “Ukrainian Week” and travel magazines.
- Uncle Zaven’s Fish (2019)
- Squash compote (Komora, 2020)
Oles Ilchenko (born 1957) is a poet, novelist and screenwriter from Kyiv. He wrote 35 books for both children and adults (two novels, two novelettes and a handful of poetry compilations). His poems were translated in the USA, Serbia, Lithuania and Russia. He lives in Geneva since 2011, likes spending time with friends, travelling, hiking, swimming, cooking, watching movies and reading a few books at a time.
Oles Ilchenko is one of the very few authors from Kyiv, whose family history of the last century is closely intertwined with the history of the city. Reproducing it from the mosaic of memories and retellings Ilchenko is elaborating the characters of his own different Kyiv under the cloak of a modern megapolis.
Poetry
- Winter Garden (1991)
- The Other View (1997)
- Papers (2004)
- Cities and Islands (2004)
- Conversations before Silence (2005)
- Some Dreams, or Kyiv that doesn’t exist (2008)
Prose
- City with Chimeras (2009, 2019)
- My Dear Chiara (2011)
- An Absolute Champion (2011)
- TEFI Award
- Teletriumph Award
- Correspondent Book of the Year – 2010
He was born in Kherson in 1966, when his mother was traveling there. That is, he is from Kyiv, but the passport indicates Kherson as his place of birth. The author has shamelessly used it all his life, because Kherson residents are valued more at sea.
He worked in the Black Sea and the Indian Ocean on fishing research vessels. He spent three years in and around the Persian Gulf as part of the 8th Pacific Navy Squadron. He remained an unshorn civilian sailor. He has been to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, the Emirates and Yemen. He then traveled the Black and Mediterranean Seas and the Dnieper and Danube rivers, as well as the Atlantic.
After the Morse code and radio operators were abolished, he graduated from the Faculty of Philology of Kyiv National University. Ukrainian philology, computational linguistics. He wrote some of the 13 books, translated some of the 6 from English.
- Wedding with Europe (2008)
- Essays on bursa (2011)
- Land of George (2016)
- Cruz and Lys. The day before (Komora, 2020)
Vira Aheieva is a theorist of literature, critic, one of the leading researchers of XX century Ukrainian Literature, Professor of National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, author of 16 books and numerous publications on Ukrainian literature history, feminism and gender studies. Since the late 1980s she has been an active interpreter of feminist aspects of Ukrainian culture and is a co-founder of Kyiv Gender Studies Institute. She is a laureate of Shevchenko National Prize and Petro Mohyla Award.
- The Literature Process of the 60s to 80s (1989)
- Ukrainian Impressionist Prose (1994)
- A Poet at the Century Borders. Lesia Ukrainka’s works in a Postmodern Interpretation (1999)
- Don Juan in the World Context (2002)
- Kyiv Neoclassics. Ukrainian Memories (2003)
- Poetic of the Paradox. Intellectual Prose of Victor Petrov-Domontovych (2006)
- pology of the Modern. A Brief of the XX century (2011)
- An Ornament on a Stone. Mykola Bazhan: Biography of a (non-)Soviet Poet (2018)
- Taras Shevchenko National Prize
- Petro Mohyla Award
Ivan Kozlenko is an active participant of early 2000s underground literary movement in Odessa and currently CEO at National Oleksandr Dovzhenko Centre. He is one of the co-founders of Odessan issue «Nervometr» and the developer of its concept, which intended reassessing the Odessan literary myth. Kozlenko sticked to that topic when writing his debut novel «Tangier», first published in a special issue of literary-critical «Kyivska Rus» magazine in 2007. 10 years after the novel came out as a separate volume with improvements and comments of the author.
- Tangier (2017)
Michael (Mykhailo Myshkalo) (born 1964) is a renowned journalist and writer from Uzhgorod. He graduated from the faculty of Electrophysics of Lviv Polytechnic National University, worked at «Polaron» plant — a Soviet industrial giant, which was one of the first victims of economic meltdown in the early 1990s. Being a young engineer, he had to work as a shuttle trader on Central and Eastern European markets and later as a nanny in Great Britain.
He came back to Lviv in 1997, started writing columns for «Postup» under the nickname Michael. He also contributed to other regional and local publications («Lvivska Poshta», «Tyzhden’», «Apteka Halytska», «Vilna Ukraina», «Zaxid.net» etc.). «Guardians of the Pavement» is Michael’s first book.
- Guardians of the Pavement (2013)
- The Flowers of Santa Barbara (2014)
Yuliia Smal is a writer, author of poetry and prose for both children and adults, journalist, teacher and member of Plast National Scout Organization of Ukraine.
- Warm stories with cinnamon (2014)
- Interesting chemistry. Lifespan of substances (2016)
- Who will believe Eleonor the seagull? (2016)
- Chinese diary of a Ukrainian mom (2016)
- A letter to St. Nicholas (2018)
- Stories of Les. Experiment and discover (2019)
- How I was a bot (2019)
Oleh Kotsarev is a Ukrainian poet, writer and journalist from Kharkiv. Received the «Homines Urbani» and “Ventspils House” grants, participated in several literature cultural events, co-compiled the Ukrainian Avant-garde Poetry Anthology. His poetry and prose was published in over 10 Ukrainian media and newspapers, and was translated into 14 languages.
- Short and Long (2003)
- My First Knife: Poetry Book (2009)
- An Incredible Story of the Reign of Chlorophytum the First: Adventure Notes (2009)
- What Time is It (2013)
- The Circus (2015)
- Flooded Fields of the River (2015)
- People in Nests (2017)
Ivo Brešan (1936–2017) was a cult Croatian novelist, playwright and screenwriter, known for philosophical prose and political satirics. He rebelled against censorship, suffered from pursuits of the regime. Became first known for the play «Acting Hamlet in the Village of Mrduša Donja» (1971), in which he directly mocked totalitarism. His writings are intertextual, grotesque, revolving around free individuality and absurd political system.
«Astaroth», which is one of Brešan’s most popular works and the first in his «Faust» trilogy, received the award of Miroslav Krleža Foundation.
- Acting Hamlet in the Village of Mrduša Donja (1971)
- The Sky Birds (1990)
- Astaroth (2001)
- The Gorgone (2006)
- Miroslav Krleža Foundation Award
Irena Dousková (born 1964) is a Czech novelist, poet and screenwriter from Příbram. Since 1976 she lives in Prague, where she previously graduated from a gymnasium and the faculty of Law of Charles University. Though never having to work as a lawyer, she became a journalist and now dedicates all of her time to writing.
The novel «B. Proudew» (1998) is her most acknowledged work, followed up by «Onegin was a Rusky» (2006) and «Darda» (2011). More than 60 000 copies were sold in Czech Republic. A theatre adaptation of the novel received a great response. Its radio version was first transmitted by ČТ1. A radioplay in 10 parts aired on Czech Radio 3 — Vltava. An audiobook came out in 2004.
- B. Proudew (1998)
- Onegin was a Rusky (2006)
- Darda (2011)
Kateřina Tučková (born 1980) is a contemporary Czech writer and art projects curator. She studied Art History and Bohemistics at Masaryk University in Brno and Charles University of Prague. Her most known works are «Montespaniáda» (2006), short stories «The last evening» (2008) and a novel «The Expulsion of Gerta Schnirch» (2009).
«The Goddesses of Žítková» published in March 2012 became a bestseller in Czech Republic. It received Josef Škvorecký Award in 2012, Český bestseller 2012 prize and «Readers’ Choice» awards at Magnesia Litera 2013 and Česká kniha 2013.
- Montespaniáda (2006)
- The last evening (2008)
- The Expulsion of Gerta Schnirch (2009)
- The Goddesses of Žítková (2012)
- Josef Škvorecký Award
- Český bestseller 2012 prize
Goran Petrović (born 1961) is one of the most well-known Serbian writers, laureate of 10 prestigious literary awards, including NIN Award for Novel of the Year. He is a corresponding member of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Novels of Goran Petrović were translated into Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Bulgarian. His short stories were published in German, English, Russian, Polish, Bulgarian, Slovenian, Macedonian and Ukrainian.
- Advices for Easier Life (1989)
- An Atlas Traced by the Sky (1993)
- Island and Ambiental Stories (1996),
- Siege of The Saint Salvation Church (1997),
- Smalltalk Place at «Lucky Shot» (2000),
- Close One (2002)
- Everything I Know About Time (2003),
- Ferry (2004),
- Distinctions (2006)
- Under the ceiling that flakes (2010).
- NIN Award for Novel of the Year
- Meša Selimović Award
- Prosveta Award
- Serbian National Library Award
- Golden Bestseller Award
Philip Newell is an author of over 10 books of Institute of Acoustics and Audio Engineering Society. He wrote over 100 articles for the specialized aviation and music publications. Formerly a flight instructor, he started working in the music industry in 1966 in his native town of Blackburn, England. In 1968 he moved to London, where he worked with several renowned musicians. In 1971 Newell became the head engineer of Virgin Records, and later its engineering director. Since 1988 he works as an independent acoustics and electroacoustics consultant.
In «Mastering» he touches the relevant subjects of mastering engineering, its technical and general aspects. By the time of the publication of the book he has projected more than 150 recording studios, concert halls, cinemas etc. He also created the first ever 24-channel live concert record using the Manor Mobile complex.
- Recording Studio Design (Audio Engineering Society Presents) (2003)
- Mastering — An Inside View (2015)
Melinda Nadj Abonji (born 1968) is a Hungarian-Swiss writer from Bečej, Vojvodina, an autonomous part of former Yugoslavia. In 1973 she moved to Switzerland with her parents. Currently living in Zurich. Apart from literature she is doing music (violin and vocal). Since 1998 she collaborates with Jurczok 1001, a poet and a beatboxer, creating performances. Between 2003 and 2009 she taught literary art at Zurich University of Teacher Education and opened her literary workshop in 2007.
«Fly Away, Pigeon» (2010) received multiple awards, such as Deutschen Buchpreis та Schweizer Buchpreis. It was translated in the UK, France, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia, Spain, Finland, Russia, Turkey, Israel and China.
- Fly Away, Pigeon (2010)
- Tortoise Soldier (2017)
- Deutschen Buchpreis
- Schweizer Buchpreis
Pavol Rankov is a leading Slovakian novelist, essayist, assistant professor of the faculty of Philosophy of Comenius University of Bratislava. He is an author of four short story collections and two novels. His very first short story book «With the shift of time» brought him readers’ acknowledgement and a Slovakian Ivan Krasko Award for a literary debut (1995).
The novel «It happened on the 1st of September (or whenever else) » won several international prizes including EU Prize for Literature as well as the Angelus Award. It is translated into Arabian, Bulgarian, Czech, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Polish, Romanian, Swedish and Hindi.
- With the Shift of Time (1995)
- It Happened on the 1st of September (or Whenever Else) (2008)
- The Mothers (2011)
- Angelus Award
- EU Prize for Literature
Jacek Dehnel (born 1980) is one of the most interesting Polish authors. He’s a poet, novelist, translator and also an artist and a painter. Dehnel is an editor-at-large in «Polityka» magazine («Kawiarnia literacka» column) and «Muzyki w Mieście» as well as platforms «Wirtualna Polska» («Książki» column) and «Lubimy Czytać». He is a prize winner of Kościelski Award (2005) and «Paszport Polityki» prize (2006).
His novel «Saturn» was featured in the shortlist of Angelus and Nike, translated into English, German, French, Italian, Slovakian, Dutch, Ukrainian and Russian. Novels «Mother Makryna» and «Lala» are also available in Ukrainian.
- Lala (2006)
- Saturn (2011)
- Mother Makryna (2014)
- Krivoklat (2016)
- Kościelski Award
- «Paszport Polityki» prize
Václav Havel (1936–2011) was a Czech politician, public figure, dissident, critic of communism, playwright and essayist. He was the ninth and the last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of Czech Republic. In 1960s he worked in a theatre «Divadlo Na zábradlí» («Theatre On Balustrade») where he became known for his plays «The Garden Party» (1963) and «The Memorandum» (1965). Not only his absurd theatre style plays, but also his essays and speeches received world recognition.
Havel was interested in the topics of regime, bureaucracy and language. In his essays and letters from prison he contemplated political analysis, philosophical questions of freedom, power, morals and transcendency. He also wrote a book of experimental poetry called «Anticodes».
- The Garden Party (1963)
- The Memorandum (1965)
- The Increased Difficulty of Concentration (1968)
- The Power of the Powerless (1985)
- Living in Truth (1986)
- Erasmus Prize
- Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
Jiří Hájíček (born 1967) is a Czech writer, author of eight books (novels and short story collections). He was born in České Budějovice and works as a bank clerk. His most known novels «Rustic Baroque» (2005) and «Fish Blood» (2012) gained great responses from literary critics and Magnesia Litera prize in 2006 and 2013 accordingly.
The premiere of «The Green Horse Hustlers» movie based on the eponymous novel by Hájíček took place in September 2016. His books were translated into eight languages: English, Italian, Polish, Hungarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Belarusian and Ukrainian.
- The Green Horse Hustlers (2001)
- Rustic Baroque (2005)
- Fish Blood (2012)
- Magnesia Litera prize
Srđan Srdić is one of the most promising representatives of the young generation of Serbian literators. He is an editor of «KIKINDA SHORT» international short story festival, co-editor of «Severni bunker» newspaper, laureate of several literary contests, including «Ulaznica» (2007), «Lapis Histriae» (2009), «Laza Lazarevic» (2009), «Biljana Jovanovic» (2011) etc. In 2010 he he was awarded the Borislav Pekić grant. Together with English writer Hanif Kureishi Srdić leads a course on creative writing in Belgrade.
His works were translated into English, Albanian, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish and Ukrainian. «Komora» published his second novel “Satori” translated by Alla Tatarenko in 2015.
- The Dead Field (2010)
- Satori (2013)
- Espirando (2011)
- Borislav Pekić grant
- Laza Lazarevic Award
- Biljana Jovanovic Award
Ignacy Karpowicz (born 1976) is a renowned contemporary Polish writer, author of six novels, laureate of «Paszport Polityki» prize (2010) for the novel «Ballades and Romances», four-time finalist of Poland’s major contest Nike Award for the novels «Gestures» (2009), «Ballades and Romances» (2011), «Bones» (2014) and «Sońka» (2014). The latter has become a literary sensation in Poland and was translated into Hungarian and Lithuanian. Literary critics consider it a modern Eastern European novel classic.
- New Flowers of the Ceasar (2007)
- Gestures (2008)
- Ballades and Romances (2010)
- Bones (2014)
- Sońka (2014)
- Love (2017)
- Nike Award
- «Paszport Polityki» prize
Zvonko Karanović is a well-known Serbian writer, author of 12 poetry books and a trilogy novel. He started writing under the influence of the Beat generation, pop-culture and cinematography, but later developed his own style called «dark neoexistentialism». For a while he has been a cult poet of city underground. He worked as a journalist, editor, radio host, DJ and concerts organizer. He owned a music store for 13 years as well.
Karanović’s works were translated into English, Greek, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovenian, Slovakian, Czech and Polish.
- More than Zero (2006)
- Four Walls and a City (2006)
- Three Pictures of the victory (2009)
Jyrki Vainonen is a leading author of modern Scandinavia and according to literary critics, «a Finnish Kafka». He is an author of several novels, essays and radioplays, translator of Swift, Yeats and Shakespeare. However, short stories gained him the most recognition. His very first short story compilation «Travelling explorer and other stories» (1999) received Helsingin Sanomain Award.
Since then his elaborate, ironic and tragic, philosophical and dynamic little masterpieces became acknowledged by readers all across Europe.
- Travelling explorer and other stories (1999)
- The Dumb God (2003)
- Helsingin Sanomain Award
Carola Hansson is a renowned Swedish novelist, playwright and translator. She studied Russian and history of art and literature at Uppsala University, became Doctor of Sciences in 1975. Together with Karin Lindén, she authored her first work «Moscow Women: Thirteen Interviews» published in 1983. She is an author of more than 10 novels («The Dream Child», «A Still-life in White», «The Two Gardens», «Andrej», «A Master’s Dream», «With My Name» etc.), where she explores exile and lost connections, relying on the experience of different epochs and countries.
She is an awardee of several prizes, including the Swedish Radio Novel Prize in 1995 and the Dobloug Prize in 2006.
- Moscow Women: Thirteen Interviews (1980)
- The Dream Child (1983)
- A Still-life in White (1985)
- The Two Gardens (1989)
- Andrej (1994)
- Steinhof (1997)
- A Master’s Dream (2005)
- With My Name (2009)
- Swedish Radio Novel Prize
- Dobloug Prize
Askold Melnyczuk (born 1954 in Irvington, New Jersey) is an American writer of Ukrainian origin, translator (of modern Ukrainian literature in particular), founder of the legendary AGNI magazine and author of five novels. His debut novel «What is Told» (1994) was featured in the New York Times list of the best novels of the year. The second one, «Ambassador of the Dead» (2002), which is also about Ukrainian immigrants in the USA, got into the Los Angeles Times list of 10 best American novels of the year.
He is a prize winner of the George Garrett Award for achievements in literature and the McGinnis Award in writing.
- What is Told (1994)
- Ambassador of the Dead (2002)
- George Garrett Award
- McGinnis Award
Slavenka Drakulić is a famous Croatian author and journalist, contributor and editor of The Nation, The New Republic, The New York Times, Internazionale, The Guardian and other publications. She wrote both fiction ((«Holograms of Fear» (1987), «Marble Skin» (1995), «Frida’s Bed» (2007), «Accused» (2012)) and non-fiction («The Deathly Sins of Feminism» (1984), «How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed» (1999), «They Would Never Hurt a Fly» (2003)), which gained world recognition and were translated into many languages. Drakulić explores the relevant topics of war, post-communism, feminism and psychological reasoning of human interactions.
She received the Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding in 2004 and was announced one of the most influential European writers of our time on the Prague Writers’ Festival in 2010.
- Holograms of Fear (1987)
- Marble Skin (1995)
- Frida’s Bed (2007)
- Accused (2012)
- The Deathly Sins of Feminism (1984)
- How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed (1999)
- They Would Never Hurt a Fly (2003)
- Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding
Svetlana Alexievich (born 1948) is a world famous Belarusian writer, creator of a unique documental and artistic method, based on creatively concentrated colloquies with real people. Her books were translated into more than 20 languages. She is a laureate of several literary awards, including Tucholsky-Preis (Swedish PEN) «For courage and pride in literature», Andrei Sinyavsky Prize «For nobility in literature», Russian «Triumph» independent award, Leipziger Book Prize on European Understanding and Herder Prize. In 2015 she received the Nobel Prize in Literature for «for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time».
Alexievich was born in Ivano-Frankivsk, studied at Belarusian State University, worked as a correspondent, wrote short stories, publicistic writings, reports etc. She had to emigrate from Belarus in 2000 under the pressure of Lukashenko’s regime. She had lived in Italy, Germany, France and Sweden before she came back to Minsk in 2013.
Her most known works include «The Unwomanly Face of War» (1983), «The Last Witnesses: A Hundred of Unchildlike Lullabys» (1985), «Boys in Zinc» (1989), «Enchanted with Death» (1993) and «Chernobyl Prayer: A Chronicle of the Future» (1997).
- The Unwomanly Face of War (1983)
- The Last Witnesses: A Hundred of Unchildlike Lullabys (1985)
- Boys in Zinc (1989)
- Enchanted with Death (1993)
- Chernobyl Prayer: A Chronicle of the Future (1997)
- Tucholsky-Preis Award
- Andrei Sinyavsky Prize
- Triumph Award
- Leipziger Book Prize on European Understanding
- Herder Prize
- Nobel Prize in Literature
James E. Mace (1952–2004) was an American historian, professor, and researcher of the Holodomor. Born in Oklahoma, Mace did his undergraduate studies at the Oklahoma State University, graduating with a B.A. in history in 1973. He pursued his graduate studies at the University of Michigan receiving a Ph.D degree in 1981, with a thesis on national communism in Soviet Ukraine in the 1920s. He started doing research for Robert Conquest’s book on the Great Famine in Ukraine, The Harvest of Sorrow. From 1986-90, Mace served as the executive director of the U.S. Commission on the Ukraine Famine, in Washington, D.C. and moved from the United States to Ukraine. Since 1995, he was a Professor of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. In his works, he argued that the famine in Soviet Ukraine during the early 1930s was an act of genocide on the part of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Mace was the first person to tell the world about it and raised the awareness.
- Communism and the Dilemmas of National Liberation: National Communism in Soviet Ukraine, 1918-1933 (1983)
Vladimir Balla is a renowned Slovakian writer and author of over ten books. He is commonly referred to as «the greatest alchemist of modern Slovakian prose», as his works are a blend of magical realism and postmodernism. He is known for treating his characters with irony and seeing the irregular in the mundane. In 2012 he received the Anasoft Litera prize for his most famous work «In the Name of the Father». It was published in the UK, the Netherlands, Hungary and Czech Republic.
- Leptokaria (1996)
- Outsideria (1997)
- Gravidita (2000)
- Tichý kút (2001)
- Unglik (2003)
- De la Cruz (2005)
- Cudzí (2008)
- V mene otca (2011)
- Oko (2012)
- Anasoft Litera
Martyna Bunda is a Polish writer and journalist. She has been working in media since she was 18, collected a profound amount of report material which influenced her writing style and career. She worked in the famous «Polityka» newspaper in 2012-2018 as a national department executive. «The Senselessness» is her debut novel, written in a remarkably bold report-like style. The author emphasizes the female power which is based on strong will, stamina and vulnerability.
- Nieczułość (The Senselessness) (2017)
- Nagroda Literacka „Gryfia”
Miljenko Jergović is a Bosnian and Croatian prose writer. He is one of the most colorful figures of the public scene, polemicist without mincing words that slowly turns into a star of European literature. Miljenko Jergović already set up in the pose of the classics, which do not tolerate human weakness, moral deviation and ideological diversion. Jergović is also a journalist and has published a collection of his articles in the acclaimed Historijska čitanka (A Reader in History, 1996). Jergović writes a column in the Serbian daily Politika, for Vreme magazine and a regular column in the Croatian daily Jutarnji list.
- Buick Rivierab (2002)
- Dvori od oraha (The Walnut Mansion) (2003)
- Inšallah Madona, inšallah (2004)
- Žrtve sanjaju veliku ratnu pobjedu (The Victims Dream of a Big War Victory) (2006)
- Freelander (2007)
- Volga, Volga (2009)
- Otac (2010)
- Rod (2013)
- Angelus Central European Literature Award
- Georg Dehio Book Prize
Zdeněk Jirotka was a Czech writer of radio-broadcast plays and author of humorous novels, short stories, and feuilletons. After the Nazis had annexed the Czechoslovakia, Jirotka worked for the Public Works Ministry and in 1942, when his most famous novel Saturnin earned him a great success, he became a full-time writer.
Saturnin is humorous and satirical story of a charismatic servant, Saturnin, who carries out eccentric tasks given by his young employer. The book plays upon words and senses of Czech proverbs. Its characters and events reflect the author’s nostalgia for the epoch before World War II.
- Saturnin (1942)
One of the most awarded literary authors in Scandinavia and translated into more than 40 languages, Finnish-Estonian novelist and playwright Sofi Oksanen (b. 1977) is an icon of her field. Called a “literary phenomenon” by The Times, Oksanen has since her international breakthrough novel, Purge, proved time and again that she is a mistress of human drama, incorporating historical and contemporary issues that move the reader. The Dog Park is Oksanen’s sixth novel.
- Stalinin lehmät (Stalin’s Cows), 2003
- Baby Jane, 2005
- Purge, 2008
- Kun kyyhkyset katosivat (When the Doves Disappered), 2012
- Norma, 2015
- Koirapuisto (The Dog Park), 2019
- The Finlandia Award – Finland
- The French Bookseller’s Prize – France
- The Budapest Grand Prize – Hungary
- The Swedish Academy Nordic Prize – Sweden
- Chevalier Medal of Honour by Ordre des Arts et des Lettres – France