Last week The Day’s representatives returned from Warsaw after attending the 50th International Book Fair, one of Europe’s most popular events, especially now that Poland is experiencing a book publishing boom and a revived interest in books. The Day presented its Library Series books, Ukraine Incognita, Dvi Rusi, and Viyny i Myr [Wars and Peace]. The latter publication was a major hit with Polish readers. Published in Polish and Ukrainian versions, Wars and Peace addresses Ukrainian-Polish relations throughout the centuries. According to the fair’s organizers and participants, the publishers created a precedent by bringing out in Ukraine a Polish- language edition of a book that has sparked interest among Polish readers, who are searching for insights into their history. Wars and Peace has been awarded numerous prizes at various book forums and received laudatory reviews in the Polish press, which explains the crowd at The Day’s stand. Lining up for the book were Poles in the 20-to-80 age bracket: students, scholars, teachers, and ordinary curious readers, among whom we spotted the famous Polish film director Jerzy Hoffman, whose films center on complex historical plots. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian edition of Wars and Peace caters to the interests of the large Ukrainian community in Poland. Strange as it may seem, today it is very difficult or downright impossible to find Ukrainian-language books in the Polish capital.
The interest generated in the books and grateful reviews from readers were an unofficial award for the authors and the newspaper’s staff, who contributed to the book. Meanwhile, Wars and Peace received a prize for best foreign publication in the Polish language.
