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Book presentation of We Will Live Forever by Ukrainian poet and soldier Dmytro Lazutkin (bilingual edition: Ukrainian–Dutch)
Lazutkin will be in conversation with his translator, Roman Nesterenko, discussing his poetry and experiences in the military, and reading from his own work. The presentation will be followed by an opportunity for questions from the audience and informal interaction.
Dmytro Lazutkin (born in 1978 in Kyiv) is a poet, journalist, former television presenter, sports commentator, martial artist and currently an active-duty soldier. He holds the rank of major in the Ukrainian Ground Forces. He has published thirteen poetry collections (the first appeared in 2003) and is no stranger to the slam poetry scene. He is a member of PEN Ukraine, the association of writers and poets. In 2024, Lazutkin received the Taras Shevchenko National Prize, Ukraine's most prestigious state award for cultural achievements.
Roman Nesterenko is a Belgian-Ukrainian literary translator. He studied Slavic languages and literature at Ghent University and primarily translates contemporary Ukrainian literature into Dutch.
We Will Live Forever comprises 25 raw poems in which Lazutkin portrays the war in a realistic and uncompromising way, yet with remarkable sensitivity and, at times, a darkly sardonic smile. Adopting an unusual style for Lazutkin, stripped of all embellishment, rhyme and even punctuation, he distils his narrative to its very essence, emphasising the urgency and authenticity of his words. He succeeds in striking a compelling balance between horror, beauty, sentimentality and personal experience.
Bilingual: Ukrainian–Dutch
Link to the publisher
