Why is Lviv a city of literature, and not just a "city of chocolate", "coffee", and "rain"? Because in 2015, Lviv was the first in Ukraine to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, receiving the honorary title of "City of Literature".
1.Lviv inspires book printers
It was our city that gave Ukraine the first printed book. In 1574, the first book in Ukraine was published in Lviv - "The Apostle" by Ivan Fedorovych.
In 1585, the Assumption Brotherhood printing house was founded - the oldest continuously operating printing house in Eastern Europe.
Also, you can buy books from past centuries at the second-hand book market under the monument to the famous Ivan Fedorovych. In addition, a competition for a Ukrainian-language publication is taking place in Lviv.
2. Lviv inspires literary creativity
As a city at the crossroads of cultures, Lviv gave the world unique literary names - Leopold Sacher-Masoch, Stanislav Lem, Bohdan-Ihor Antonych, Ivan Franko, Bruno Schulz, Adam Zagajewski, Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, Szymon Szymonowic.
All of them drew inspiration and formed their literary talent precisely in the "city of dreams" (according to A. Zagajewski).
3. Lviv inspires translators
Many pearls of Ukrainian translation were nurtured in the multilingual literary cradle of Lviv.
A number of the most outstanding works of classical and modern world literature received a Ukrainian "face" precisely thanks to the city's translators:
"The Good Soldier Švejk" by Y. Hasek (S. Maslіak), "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" by J. Joyce (M. Prokopovуch), "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien (O. Feshovets), "Foucault's Pendulum", "The Name of the Rose" by U. Eco (M. Prokopovуch), "I Served the English King" by B. Нrabal (Y. Vуnnychuk), "Dictionary of the Khazars" by M. Pavić (O. Ros), "Last Love in Constantinople" by M. Pavić (N. Chorpitа), "Loneliness on the Net" by Y. Wisniewski (O. Kravets), "Patience with God: The Story of Zacchaeus Continuing in Us" by T. Halik (L. Fedyk and N. Lobur) and others. And noble Lviv residents are trilingual from birth!
4. Lviv inspires young poetry
"Young Republic of Poets" is a literary project that unites creative youth from all over Ukraine, giving them a unique opportunity to read their poems in front of an audience and publish books.
Numerous literary meetings and evenings and literary coffee houses ("Kabi.net") give life to new names: the poetry group "LuНoSad", the birth of the literary poetry group "Boo-ba-boo" (Burlesque-Balagan-Bufonada). Young poets of Lviv are ready to live and create anywhere - even "in a phone booth" (R. Skyba).
5. Lviv inspires modern drama
Theatre life has been bubbling in Lviv for a long time.
Tragedy and Comedy appear again and again in new faces on the stages of classical and avant-garde theatres of the city: The Solomiya Krushelnytska Lviv State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Maria Zankovetska Lviv National Academic Theatre, The Voskresinnia Lviv Academic Theatre, Lesia Ukrainka Lviv Drama Theatre, Lesia Kurbasa Lviv Academic Theatre, Theatre of variety miniatures "And people and dolls", First Ukrainian theatre for children and youth.
Lviv is the scenery and even a character for numerous films and theatre productions: audience seats on the stage, action in the hall. The "Drama UA" festival is a platform for the presentation of young playwrights and productions of modern plays.
6. Lviv inspires humanitarian education
From the founding of the first Lviv University in Ukraine in 1661 until now, Lviv has been a significant centre of humanitarian education in Eastern Europe.
A powerful philosophical tradition (the Lviv-Warsaw school), age-old traditions of journalism and literary criticism and educational conditions for comprehensive support of the literary process.
Graduates of the Ukrainian Academy of Printing, Ivan Franko Lviv National University and the Ukrainian Catholic University form the basis of the publishing, writing, and journalistic European elite.
7. Lviv inspires literary festivals and forums
Since 1994, the Book Fair and the Lviv International Literary Festival have been held in Lviv every September (organized by the НO "Publishers' Forum"). It is the largest Ukrainian book fair and event of its kind in Eastern Europe.
Honourable guests of the Forum at one time were Peter Weidgaas (Germany), Jostein Gaarder and Erlend Loe (Norway), Janusz Leon Wiśniewski (Poland), DBC Pierre and Jeremy Strong (UK), Zygmunt Bauman, Krzysztof Zanussi and Krzysztof Varga (Poland) and others. Every year, the best book of the year is chosen and widely promoted at the Forum.
New festival initiatives are being launched, in particular "Knyhoproektor" - a competition of short films aimed at popularizing books among young people.
8. Lviv inspires children to read
Lviv can be called the city of children's reading - this is evidenced by a developed network of children's libraries, as well as numerous publishing houses and literary festivals - "Old Lion Publishing House", Lviv International Children's Festival, Literary Marathon, Children's Reading Festival "Knyhomania".
In addition, the "Ukraine Reads to Children" movement was launched in Lviv, which had previously travelled through European countries (Children's Reading Center).
9. Lviv inspires cultural synergy
Lviv is one of the most creative cities in Europe: from cooking to theatre and books. Only this frantic symbiosis of all things creative ensures the catalysis of creative resources, not only for Lviv residents but also for all visitors to the city.
All of Ukraine inspires Lviv: the highest concentration of Ukrainian traditions, focus on national values, and multiculturalism. If you want to create something, come to Lviv!
10. Lviv inspires Ukraine!
Lviv is a city of cultural heritage (UNESCO), a city of ideas and the cultural capital of Ukraine. It is evidenced not only by the informal status of the people but also by most creative clubs, restaurants, cafes, and festival initiatives.
Lviv is a cultural bridge between Ukraine and Europe and a city where the calendar of events is a schedule of festivals of various creative fields.
From now on, Lviv residents and guests of the city can discover a new page of Lviv with the illustrated artistic and encyclopedic guide "Lviv - the city of inspiration. Literature".
The publication collected essays by modern authors inspired by Lviv, thorough historical research, and an overview of relevant locations, awards and events with a literary infrastructure map.
The book was published by the Old Lion Publishing House on the initiative of the "Lviv - City of Literature" Office.
Lviv - City of Literature project office official Facebook.
