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World Book Day 2022: Exploring Ukraine through its literature
- 22 April 2022
- Event report
- gsclibrary
World Book Day is a very important date in the literary world. On 23 April 2022, publishers, booksellers and libraries – the three pillars of the book industry – will join together with bibliophiles, bookworms and book lovers all over the globe to celebrate this event. The aim is to promote the habit of reading and make people aware of the importance of books.
This year, World Book Day takes place in the shadow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have been pushed to the forefront of global news. Ukraine is an independent country with a long and revered literary history. But how well do you know it?
To provide insights into the Ukrainian people and highlight the richness of their culture, the Council Library has decided to celebrate World Book Day by showcasing a selection of Ukrainian literary gems. The books were chosen by trainees at the Council and have been compiled into a Library Guide.
Discover the country through the adventures of a mild-mannered beekeeper and his efforts to save his local population of bees. Meet Viktor, an aspiring writer whose only company is Misha, his pet penguin. Or listen to the words of a sharp-tongued poet, with an irreverently honest voice.
We’ve chosen books filled with irony, dark humour and social commentary; novels about feminism, war and romance; fairy tales, poetry and plays; ancient classics and contemporary works. Some of the works are funny, some are heartfelt, others hit heavy. There is a book for everyone in this selection that will transport readers to a different culture and different cities and help them empathise with their inhabitants.
To give you a taster of some of the gems on offer, watch the video of Council trainees reading extracts from four of the books listed.
Readings by Council trainees for World Book Day
For those looking to further their knowledge about what is happening in Ukraine, the Council Library has compiled a Library Guide of relevant and authoritative resources relating to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A non-exhaustive list of think tank publications on the situation in Ukraine has also been published by the Council Library. The list is regularly updated.
Happy World Book Day to all of our readers!
This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.
The Council Library is open Monday to Friday from 12.30 to 15.30. The Info Desk remains open online every working day (library@consilium.europa.eu).
The Council Library is open to external researchers by appointment.
