Acclaimed author, comedian, playwright, and broadcaster Viv Groskop has pledged to donate all income from her forthcoming memoir, “One Ukrainian Summer,” to PEN International. This organisation is renowned for its global efforts to support writers who face threats due to their work. The book, set to be released by Ithaka Press, chronicles Groskop’s experiences of love and growth in the post-Soviet era.
“Thirty years on, at a time when thousands of Ukrainian voices have been silenced by war, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to donate all the author proceeds for this book to PEN International for writers at risk.”
Viv Groskop
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Groskop, who has two master’s degrees in Russian Studies, a decade as a contributing editor at Russian Vogue, and roles such as a former judge of the International Booker Prize, is known for injecting humour and poignancy in her work. Speaking to How To Be Books, Groskop shared, “One Ukrainian Summer is a memoir about the intense passion and boundless stupidity of my youthful self, set during that short-lived time of hope and optimism immediately after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
“It’s funny and bittersweet and also my way of saying sorry to my friend Misha who told me a long time ago, ‘Vivka, don’t learn Russian, learn Ukrainian,'” she added.
She also stressed the significance of her gesture towards Ukrainian voices silenced by ongoing conflict, stating, “Thirty years on, at a time when thousands of Ukrainian voices have been silenced by war, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to donate all the author proceeds for this book to PEN International for writers at risk.”
The memoir takes place in the autumn of 1993, as Groskop approached her 21st birthday, navigating the complexities of love and friendship amid the cultural and political backdrop of a disbanded Soviet Union. Her story is a deep dive into the era’s culture, from punk rock gigs to the quest for Western fashion, all while exploring the larger implications of a world in transition.
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Sarah Braybrooke, publishing director at the Bonnier Books UK imprint, who acquired the world English language rights from Cathryn Summerhayes at Curtis Brown, described “One Ukrainian Summer” as a touching and humorous account of youth in a pivotal historical moment.
Braybrooke praised Groskop’s narrative prowess, telling the Bookseller, “This is a very special book: Viv’s voice is accomplished, and her ability to evoke an elusive time and place is second to none. This is a no-holds-barred story about searching for adventure and finding more of it than you could ever have imagined.”
PEN International also expressed their gratitude, thanking her on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“One Ukrainian Summer” is due to be published in hardback, audiobook and e-book on the May 23rd 2024.