Keira Knightley to narrate Ukrainian schoolgirl's 'extraordinary' diary for Bloomsbury

Keira Knightley is to narrate the audio version of You Don’t Know What War Is, a diary by 12-year-old Ukrainian schoolgirl Yeva Skalietska, published this autumn by Bloomsbury. 

The Academy Award-nominated actor will read the UK edition of the book, which will be released on 25th October 2022. The audiobook is billed as a "moving and immediate experience that will enlighten readers young and old".

The book was won by Bloomsbury in a seven-way auction in June, and will launch alongside events and a media campaign in the UK and Ireland, featuring national broadcast and print interviews with Skalietska, including a serialisation and first interview in the Times Magazine.

Introduced by Michael Morpurgo, it has been compared to Anne Frank’s diary for its powerful insight into what conflict is like through the eyes of a child. For publication, Bloomsbury partnered with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

"You Don’t Know What War Is had a huge effect on me," Knightley said. "It’s an incredibly important story to tell that is both powerful and deeply moving. I feel honoured to be part of this publication, narrating Yeva’s extraordinary tale of inspiration and bravery."

Audio manager Tom Skipp praised the actor’s "brilliance at capturing Yeva’s thoughtful and insightful voice," saying: "It means a lot to Yeva that Keira chose to work on this important book and Keira has done something really quite special with her approach to it. She does justice to Yeva’s innocent, young but wise-beyond-her-years tone and Keira’s perfectly pitched portrayal is sensitive, intimate and, ultimately, utterly compelling."