Andriy Lyubka – författare

A drunken teacher dreams up a hairbrained scheme to dig a tunnel from Ukraine to Hungary to force the EU to grant Ukraine admission by smuggling its entire population into a member country. Hilarity inevitably ensues, along with danger, when Tys, the would-be 'Moses of Ukraine', recruits a gang of local smugglers, including a latter-day Icarus determined to fly over the border and a femme fatale who traffics human organs.

Andriy Lyubka, einer der bekanntesten ukrainischen Autoren der jüngeren Generation, ist seit Beginn des russischen Überfalls als Freiwilliger an und hinter der Front unterwegs, um über Spenden geländegängige Autos für die Armee zu erwerben, sie aufarbeiten zu lassen und zu den kämpfenden Truppen zu bringen. In seinen literarischen Reportagen porträtiert er Soldatinnen und Soldaten, Freunde, die freiwillig an die Front gehen, Frauen, die ihre Männer oder Söhne verlieren, Menschen verschiedenster Her-kunft und Religion, Roma, Juden, Muslime, Baptisten, die die Frei-willigen unterstützen – berührend, aufregend und manchmal mit einer Prise schwarzen Humors. Für dieses Buch erhielt er 2024 den hochangesehenen Joseph Conrad-Preis.Mit zahlreichen Fotos von Serhiy Horbatenko

A gripping, unexpectedly humorous, and deeply human portrait of life in Ukraine reshaped by war. In this powerful collection of essays, writer Andriy Lyubka—thrust into the role of an unlikely volunteer—offers a firsthand account of delivering aid to the front lines.With raw honesty and surprising wit, Lyubka captures both the absurdity and the heartbreak of war. He reflects on time lost, the emotional toll of conflict, and the everyday defiance that keeps hope alive. From the logistical nightmares of aid distribution to the rich aroma of coffee that briefly restores a soldier’s sense of normalcy, War from the Rear reveals a side of war rarely seen—the human side.More than just a chronicle of conflict, this book is a tribute to the individuals who endure it, the bonds they build, and the acts of kindness that shine through even the darkest times. It’s an essential, unforgettable perspective on Ukraine’s ongoing fight that will stay with readers long after the final page.

A gripping, unexpectedly humorous, and deeply human portrait of life in Ukraine reshaped by war. In this powerful collection of essays, writer Andriy Lyubkathrust into the role of an unlikely volunteeroffers a firsthand account of delivering aid to the front lines.With raw honesty and surprising wit, Lyubka captures both the absurdity and the heartbreak of war. He reflects on time lost, the emotional toll of conflict, and the everyday defiance that keeps hope alive. From the logistical nightmares of aid distribution to the rich aroma of coffee that briefly restores a soldiers sense of normalcy, War from the Rear reveals a side of war rarely seenthe human side.More than just a chronicle of conflict, this book is a tribute to the individuals who endure it, the bonds they build, and the acts of kindness that shine through even the darkest times. Its an essential, unforgettable perspective on Ukraines ongoing fight that will stay with readers long after the final page.