Institute Français

8 May 2026

6.00 - 7.30pm

Join us for a reading and discussion with Artur Dron'.

What does it mean to write poetry on the front line of the bloodiest war in Europe since the Second World War and reflective essays that deal with trauma yet also express a will to freedom and life itself? Join Artur Dron’ - poet, prize-winning essayist and veteran - to hear a reading of his poems of testimony collected in We Were Here(2023). Get a preview of his book of essays, Hemingway Knows Nothing (2025, English translation forthcoming 2026), which tops the bestseller lists in Ukraine and which won the nation’s top prize for essay writing.

Poetry Cafe, London
16 April 2026
6.30 - 8.00pm

Join Yuliya Musakovska, Fiona Benson, and Anatoliy Dnistrovyi for some gorgeous poetry in a beautiful venue.

(Yuliya and Fiona collaborated on Jantar Amber Poets Volume 1, 'We Were Here' by Artur Dron')

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David Vaughan being interviewed by Czech Radio after the last night's event @UCLSSEES. All went home happy... David now has a rest for three days before returning to Prague. Then 'Hear My Voice' gets it Czech launch in November. US/ Canada in Spring 2019. There is only awesome!

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Well, reviews don't get any more effusive than this...   

Andriy Lyubka spoke with Apofenie’s editor-in-chief about the first short story he wrote as a child, Ukraine’s ties to the Balkans, and how the modern Ukrainian reader is unique. 

Tonda Bajaja, who for some reason, insists on speaking French and not Czech to a certain gentleman of letters has been shortlisted for the Angelus Prize and hoorah for that! (The English version is available at all good books stores and online...)