The Ukrainian Almanac
The book 'The Ukrainian Almanac' was released in November 2023. The publishers of the book are the Jānis Akuraters Museum and the Jānis Akuraters Society in cooperation with Latvian PEN.
The idea for the almanac arose over a year ago, when on March 25, 2022, an event was held at the Jānis Akuraters Museum in support of Ukraine, featuring readings of Latvian poets' poems and translations of works by Ukrainian authors. The book now contains both the poems read at this event and the later works of Ukrainian and Latvian authors - poetry, prose, and essays.
The almanac features the poems of Ukrainian poets Pavlo Tytchyna (Павло Тичина, 1891–1967), Bohdan Ihor Antonych (Богдан-Ігор Антонич, 1909–1937), Vasyl Stus (Василь Стус, 1938–1985), Iya Kiva (Iya Kiva, 1984), Yuriy Zavadsky (Юрій Завадський, 1981), Kateryna Kalitko (Катерина Калитко, 1982), Boris Khersonsky (Борис Херсонский, 1950), Vasyl Makhno (Василь Махно, 1964), Halyna Kruk (Галина Крук, 1974), Mariana Savka (Мар’яна Савка, 1973), Kateryna Mikhalytsyna (Катерина Міхаліцина, 1982) with translations by Mara Saleja, Inga Gaile, and Kristaps Vecgravis. The book also includes deservedly acclaimed translations of poems by the contemporary Ukrainian author Serhiy Zhadan (Сергій Жадан, 1974) by Mara Saleja and a fragment from his novel 'Anarchy in the UKR' (2005) in the translation of Mara Polakova. The book begins with the Ukrainian anthem, with the words written by Pavlo Chubynsky (Павло Чубинський, (1839–1884) and music composed by Mykhailo Verbytsky (Mihailo Verbitskis, (1815–1870)). The book also includes a translation of the anthem's text by Mara Saleja. The Ukrainian authors' literary texts are supplemented with short biographical information and artistic works.
Among the Latvian authors, the almanac features poems by Mara Saleja, Zane Daugule, Ivars Steinbergs, Inga Gaile, Inga Pizane, Ilmars Slapins, Jana Egles, and Eduards Aivars, created on February 24, 2022. In a way, it serves as a poetic diary of Latvian authors, bearing witness to the crisis of humanity caused by the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine, as well as capturing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences during this time of 'incomprehension.' Eduards Aivars commented on the creation of the book: 'Although many precisely or approximately refer to Theodor W. Adorno's statement that 'to write poetry after Auschwitz is barbarism' (and this line is taken out of context from Adorno's book 'Prisms'), artistic impulses, logically, are not extinguished; musical compositions continue to emerge, fabrics are painted, and literary texts are created, many of which are currently directed against Russian aggression and the atrocities in Ukraine. Poetry holds a central place here because novels about war are more extensive and are still being written, and we will be able to read them years later.'
The almanac also includes an article titled 'Russian Crimes Against Freedom of Speech, Media, Journalists, and Ukrainian Culture' prepared by Ilmars Slapins in cooperation with Ukrainian PEN, which names the writers, journalists, and media representatives who were killed or injured between February 24, 2022, and July 1, 2023.
The artist of 'The Ukrainian Almanac' is Ruta Mezavilka, and the editor is Aivars Eipurs. The publication of the book was financially supported by the Riga City Council and 'Draugiem Group.'
