MacLehose Press scoops rights to Kurkov’s novel Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv 

Ukrainian writer Andrei Kurkov’s novel Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv, which follows a group of Jimi Hendrix fans in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv as they grapple with mysterious events, has gone to MacLehose Press.

Paul Engles, editor, acquired world English-language rights from Susanne Bauknecht at Diogenes Verlag, Zurich. Publication is confirmed for 27th April 2023 in a translation from Russian by Reuben Woolley.

Engles commented: “From the story of the hippies of Soviet Lviv, hanging out in the shadow of the party committee building, to the romance between a woman who is allergic to money (but works at a bureau de change) and a man who drives kidney-stone patients over cobblestones for a living, this is vintage Kurkov. His signature brand of humour is everywhere in abundance, as are seagulls, doves, a salty smell in the air and vodka!”

Kurkov, whose previous books include Death and the Penguin (Vintage) and Grey Bees (MacLehose Press), said: “Lviv is the most magical city in Ukraine with the charm of Vienna and the atmosphere of Venice, though without the water. I am so happy this novel is coming out in English! I hope readers will not only read it but will also go to Lviv to look for the secret grave of Jimi Hendrix and also to enjoy a hidden gem with incredible international history!”