Prague to host discussion on Ukrainian literature, translation and cultural memory

On 5 November at 19:00, the First Presidential Library in Prague will host the discussion “Jazyk, kultura, identita: Co všechno může národ ztratit?”. It will run until 20:00 at Ostrovní 13, Praha 1. Participants will discuss contemporary Ukrainian literature, translation during wartime, and the role of books in preserving cultural memory. The organiser emphasizes that war affects not only people and cities, but also book infrastructure: publishers, warehouses and libraries. Alongside physical losses, texts, language and collective memory are also at risk. The discussion offers a way to approach this topic through authors, translators and people who continue to support Ukrainian culture. Among the participants is Ukrainian writer and literary critic Karina Armlos, who has lived in Prague since 2016 and founded the Ukrainian Book Club and cultural centre Spilka. Also speaking will be translators from Ukrainian Adéla Mikešová and Jiřina Dvořáková, as well as literary scholar Alžběta Knappová. For Ukrainians in Czechia, the event will be an opportunity to discuss how cultural heritage experiences crisis and what local communities can do: support translations, build library collections, organise meetings with authors, and preserve personal and family archives. The organiser’s page does not state whether prior registration is required. “Debata nabídne pohled na válku z perspektivy, která často zůstává stranou pozornosti – skrze knihy, jejich autory, překladatele a lidi, kteří se i během války snaží udržet ukrajinskou kulturu živou.”