Books at the Institute: Oleksandr Mykhed in Conversation

Books at the Institute presents a special online event

Oleksandr Mykhed in Conversation

Author of The Language of War

Thursday, November 14 at 1:00 PM EST / 8:00 PM Kyiv Time

Mr. Mykhed will be joined in conversation by Kate Tsurkan, publisher and editor of the literary journal, Apofenie.

We will be presenting this event virtually via Zoom. 

Join us online for an afternoon conversation with writer and scholar Oleksandr Mykhed as he talks about his latest book in English translation: documenting war experiences (his own and communal), the semiotics of memory, emotion, time and place, history, and writing as therapy.

Virtual attendees will have the opportunity to contribute comments and ask questions.

When everyday life becomes a state of emergency, how can yesterday’s words suffice?

‘We were so happy and didn’t know it …’

A thirty-three-year-old writer lives in a quiet European suburb with his wife and his dog. His parents have bought an apartment nearby. On weekends they go out for brunch, cook and see friends. Life is good; it is normal. Then the invaders come.

The Language of War is about what happens when your world changes overnight. When you wake up to the sound of helicopters and the smell of gunpowder. When your home is hit by shells or broken into by gunmen, and you spend another night in a basement-turned-bomb shelter. When even though you’ve never held a weapon before, you realize the only choice is to fight back. It is about things one can never forget or forgive.

Bringing together Oleksandr Mykhed’s vivid day-by-day chronicles of the invasion of Ukraine with a chorus of other voices – his family, friends in exile, those who have fought and have witnessed unimaginable atrocities – this book is both a record, and a reckoning. Haunting and timeless, it asks how it is possible to find the words to describe a new reality; how you can still make sense of the world when the only language you can speak is the language of war.

Oleksandr Mykhed’s book is a gripping and stimulating read that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever wondered how ordinary people find the strength to persevere in the face of extraordinary trauma, and will appeal to readers who appreciate powerful, unflinching portrayals of resilience, hope, and the human spirit.

Praise for The Language of War

“Each piece of writing here helps us to understand a reality that we can and must repair. This book has helped me and will help anyone who wishes to understand war.” ⎯ Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny and On Freedom

 “A harrowing recount of life as a Ukrainian during the first months of Russia’s invasion – a timely reminder of its ever-presence for the millions living through it. It is, in that sense, a book not about Ukraine but about Ukrainians . . . it will compel you to care.” ⎯ The Independent

 “A stunning account of life in a time of war. If this doesn’t make you look up from your screen to reflect on Ukraine, then nothing will … often heart-rending … this is far more than history, invaluable as his detailed reporting is. As well as a reckoning with Russia, it is also a reflection on humanity in any war.” ⎯ Alec Russell, Financial Times

 “In this vital work, Mykhed takes on the challenge of finding a language to convey the horror and absurdity of war and succeeds with devastating impact. One cannot ever truly capture the reality and enormity of war but can only document fragments of events and snapshots of people’s lives. Mykhed skillfully collates these fragments ⎯ recollections, anecdotes, portraits and conversations, interspersed with a catalogue of war crimes ⎯ into a uniquely powerful account of what has happened to our country and our people since February 2022. Both deeply personal and of universal and lasting significance, this book should be required reading for humankind.” ⎯ Mstyslav Chernov, Oscar-winning director of 20 Days in Mariupol.

The Language of War was published June 13, 2024 by Allen Lane, an imprint of Penguin Books. It was translated into English from the original Ukrainian by Maryna Gibson, Hanna Leliv and Abby Dewar.

Oleksandr Mykhed is a writer and literary scholar. Until March 2022, he lived in Kyiv. He is now enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He is the author of nine books; selected essays and excerpts from his books have been translated into ten languages. He has participated in literary residencies in Finland, Latvia, Iceland, the USA and France, and a virtual residency at Oxford University. He has written for publications including The Financial Times, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and The Guardian, and has appeared as a guest on CNN and NPR. He is a member of PEN Ukraine.

Kate Tsurkan is a writer, editor, and translator. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Harpers, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Kyiv Independent, and elsewhere. She is the founding editor of the literary journal, Apofenie.

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Event date: Thursday, November 14 at 1:00 PM EST / 8:00 PM Kyiv Time
Event address: Online via Zoom. Register here.

Title: The Language of War
Author: Oleksandr Mykhed
Publisher: Penguin Books Limited: Allen Lane (June 13, 2024)
Paperback: 280 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 0241690846
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0241690840
Weight: ‎ 10.9 ounces
Dimensions: ‎ 5.31 x 0.91 x 8.5 inches

Purchase book, here.

For further information: Please contact (212) 288-8660, or mail@ukrainianinstitute.org.