Volodymyr Zelensky's ‘battle cry for liberty’ goes to Hutchinson Heinemann

Hutchinson Heinemann has landed a curated collection of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky’s speeches, entitled A Message from Ukraine, prefaced by an introduction from Zelensky himself.

Rowan Borchers, editorial director at Hutchinson Heinemann acquired world rights from Toby Mundy at Aevitas UK, to be published globally including in the US (Crown), Germany (Siedler Verlag), Spain (Debate) and Portugal (Vogais). So far rights have been sold in 10 territories. Hutchinson Heinemann will publish A Message from Ukraine in the UK and Commonwealth in hardback, audiobook and e-book on 24th November.

The publisher says: “Bringing together a new introduction by Volodymyr Zelensky with his most powerful war speeches, A Message from Ukraine recounts Ukraine’s story through the words of its president. It is the story of a nation valiantly defending itself from Russian aggression. And it is the story of a people leading the world in the struggle for democracy. Above all, it is a battle cry for the world to speak out and fight for liberty. If not now, when?

“The book includes 16 speeches that the president has personally selected to explore Ukraine’s journey since 2019, as well as a stirring introduction in which he reflects on what he has learnt about himself and about Ukraine since the full-scale invasion."

All Zelensky’s proceeds from the book – amounting to at least 60p per copy of the print edition sold in the UK – will go to United24, his initiative to collect donations in support of Ukraine. The book also includes a preface by Arkady Ostrovsky, Russia and Eastern Europe editor of the Economist, who has been invited by Penguin Random House to explain the context of the speeches and why they matter.

Zelensky said: “Supporting Ukraine is not a trend, a meme or a viral challenge. It is not a force to rapidly spread across the planet and then just as rapidly disappear. If you want to understand where we are from, what we want and where we are going, you need to learn more about who we are. This book will help you do just that.

“Since my inauguration in May 2019, I have delivered about 1,000 different addresses around the world. I have selected the 16 speeches in this book because they will help you understand Ukrainians: our aspirations, our principles and our values. Above all, this book will help you hear our message to the world: that we are a free and independent people, and that we will not stop fighting until the last Russian troops have left our territory."

Ostrovsky commented: “This book records how Ukraine has found its voice and its strength. The effects can be seen on the battlefields of the biggest war in Europe since 1945.”

Borchers said: "Over the past seven months, president Zelensky’s speeches have become a rallying cry for everyone who cares about the future of democracy. It is the honour of a lifetime to help him share his message with the world."