The BBC’s annual literary accolade rewarding the best works of fiction in the Ukrainian language – BBC Book of the Year (Книга року BBC 2015) and BBC Children’s Book of the Year (Дитяча Книга року BBC 2015) – in partnership with the Cultural Programme of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has been launched at the annual International Book Fair and Literature Festival in Lviv, Ukraine.
The BBC Book of the Year awards launched at the round-table discussion – “Literature and critique: cooperation or conflict?”
BBC Ukrainian Editor, Nina Kuryata, said: “It’s been over a decade now that the BBC Book of the Year awards have served as an excellent platform for discussions and debate about the latest Ukrainian literature. As we launch the 11th Book of the Year awards, we hope that the new decade of this literary accolade will be marked by some brilliant work in both nominations.”
Since 2012, the awards have been presented in partnership with the Cultural Programme of the EBRD.
EBRD Cultural Advisor, Svitlana Pyrkalo, commented: “The EBRD’s Cultural Programme is very proud to partner with the BBC Book of the Year for the fourth time, and we hope that 2015 will prove to be another successful year for good children’s literature in Ukraine. The EBRD believes in societies where entrepreneurship, individuality and independence of spirit play a key role, and it all starts with a good children’s book.”
The BBC Book of the Year awards will be judged by:
Vira Ageyeva, professor, Ukraine National University “Kiev-Mohyla Academy”
Olga Gerasymiuk, journalist
Svitlana Pyrkalo, writer, EBRD Cultural Advisor
Marta Shokalo, Desk Editor, BBC Ukrainian
Yuriy Volodarskiy, literary critic.
The winning author in each category will be awarded a Ukrainian hryvnya equivalent of £1,000. The publishers of the BBC Book of the Year and BBC Children’s Book of the Year 2014 will have the right to use the logos of the BBC Ukrainian book awards on subsequent editions.
Publishers can submit up to three books in each category, and up to two new books by previous winners. Submitted books must be works of fiction in the Ukrainian language, published within the last 12 months. For detailed terms and conditions, go to bbc.ua.
The long-lists in each category are selected by the BBC Ukrainian team. The panel selects shortlists and winners.
The deadline for nominations is 1 October 2015. The winner will be announced in December.
Last year’s winners were: “Felix Austria” (“Фелікс Австрія”) by Sofia Andrukhovich (BBC Book of the Year) and “Dragons, Forward!” (“Дракони, вперед!“) by Katya Shtanko (BBC Children’s Book of the Year 2014).
Past years’ winners are:
2013 – “The Remote Space” (“Далекий простір”) by Yaroslav Melnyk (Book of the Year) and “Who Will Make the Snow” (“Хто зробить сніг”) by Maryana and Taras Prokhasko (Children’s Book of the Year)
2012 – “The Tango of Death” by Yuri Vynnychuk (Юрій Винничук “Танго смерті”) (Book of the Year) and “The Secret Society of Cowards and Liars” by Lesya Voronyna (Леся Вороніна “Таємне Товариство Боягузів та Брехунів”) (Children’s Book of the Year)
2011 – “Blue Waters” by Volodymir Rutkivskiy (Володимир Рутківський “Cині води”)
2010 – “Voroshilovgrad” by Sergiy Zhadan (Сергій Жадан “Ворошиловград”)
2009 – “TAKE” by Izdrik (Іздрик “ТАКЕ”)
2008 – “Milk and Blood” by Lyuko Dashvar (Люко Дашвар “Молоко з кров’ю”)
2007 – “Andriyivskyy Descent” by Volodimir Dibrovа (Володимир Діброва “Андріївський узвіз”)
2006 – “Capital” by Sergiy Zhadan (Сергій Жадан “Капітал”)
2005 – “Spring Games in Autumn Gardens” by Yuriy Vynnychuk (Юрій Винничук “Весняні ігри в осінніх садах”).
Source: EBRD