Abstract

The Annual Vsesvit Readings were begun in 2011 to celebrate the art of literary translation and the mission of the journal Vsesvit (The Universe), the oldest active literary journal in Ukraine. Founded in 1925 by Oleksandr Dovzhenko, Vasyl’ Blakytnyi, and Mykola Khvyl’ovyi, the journal has translated over 4,000 works from 98 literatures of the world into the Ukrainian language.

The Vsesvit Readings, held in the Chapel of Robinson College, Cambridge, consist of musical performances and literary readings of texts in the original language and in English and Ukrainian translation. The readings are performed by the students and academic staff of Cambridge’s Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and by friends of Cambridge Ukrainian Studies.

This year the Vsesvit Readings focus on Hebrew- and Yiddish-language texts in Ukrainian and English translation. Musicians Ilana Cravitz and Yuri Vedenyapin will also perform.