"We Are A Society Of Taboos": An Interview with Roman Malynovsky

Roman Malynovsky is a writer and publisher from Ivano-Frankivsk. In 2017, he founded the Civilization publishing house. He is also the editor-in-chief of the Library of Babel publishing house, which he co-founded in 2014. His first short story collection ‘Sweet Life’ was released by the Meridian Czernowitz publishing house this year. We met on the first day of the annual Meridian Czernowitz literary festival in Chernivtsi when authors from all over Ukraine and, in fact, all over the world come to celebrate poetry in the birthplace of Paul Celan. Malynovsky is a towering figure with piercing eyes, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a young George Orwell. His passion for literature is apparent in his every word and would surely inspire the staunchest literary skeptic. Over a glass or two of wine we talked about Ukrainian readers, the importance of translating Russian texts into Ukrainian, putting translators’ names on the cover of books, the historical legacy of Ivano-Frankivsk, and more.

You’re not only a writer but a publisher. Do you approach literature differently in these two roles?

My passion for writing came to me long before publishing. I try to keep my work in publishing separate from my work as a writer — I publish only translated literature, which is a form of distance from my literature, that is, Ukrainian literature. It connects only in the space of language, which dictates my work as both a writer and publisher.

You have gone on record stating that your publishing house Civilization is for “elite” readers. Who are elite readers? 
This word was used as a wake-up call for those who read it. What do I mean by elite? This is not mass-produced literature. I don’t expect a large audience, because it’s an extraordinary kind of experiment. My own personal view is that “elite” is not a bad word. Nor does it signify a form of snobbery. We all have the potential to be elite. It is a form of human intellect, surrounding us in our daily lives.

What is the place of elite readers in a country where very few people are buying books? 
Those who are purchasing and reading books are already elite, in a certain sense. 

The major bookseller Kniharnya Ye caused a controversy when they declared that they would start selling Russian books online. Their justification was that Russian books sell more because they are cheaper. How do Ukrainian publishers survive in this market?

Let me tell you what is necessary for Ukrainian books to become cheaper—it’s very simple. Ukrainian readers have to read more. I, as a Ukrainian publisher, invest money into a book and print a thousand copies. Each one costs three hundred hryvnias. If I’m publishing 10,000 copies, wouldn’t it be 10x cheaper? Russian publishers have an easy time exporting Russian-language literature because they work in a colossal Russian market that exists beyond Russia’s borders. This is what allows them to offer cheaper books. 

It’s hard for publishers working in the Ukrainian market to do what we do without government support and the support of our fellow publishers and booksellers who have refused to publish or sell Russian books. Solidarity is important. 

You support translating Russian literature into Ukrainian. However most Ukrainians understand Russian, so isn’t it more cost-effective for a publisher to invest in translation French or Chinese literature? 

Until a book has been translated into Ukrainian it’s not part of the cultural code. Language is the foundational base of culture—it determines a sense of belonging and identity. We have to translate Russian literature because it’s very powerful. Without it, we lack a full understanding of world literature. You remove Dostoevsky, and literature is not what it is today. We cannot ignore these important authors. I enjoy reading many Russian authors: Pelevin, Tolstoy, Nabokov… Yet the first thing I do when I hear of a Russian book that might interest me is search for the Ukrainian translation. For me, the Ukrainian code is more understandable. 

Translations develop a language and keep it current. When a Ukrainian translator searches for the equivalent of a word from English or Chinese, they can push the language in a new direction. That’s very important. 

It must also be said that everything that has been happening in Ukraine since the start of the war with Russia in 2014 relates to the question of identity. A Russian victory would lead to the loss of Ukrainian culture. 

Do you think we will see a trend in the coming years where formerly Russian-speaking Ukrainian writers switch to working only in Ukrainian? 

Yes, I believe in it. I understand why these authors have written in Russian. It is hard to switch from one language to another, especially when the former was your primary language since childhood. I hope that the day will come when all Ukrainians choose to speak in Ukrainian. Someday it will happen. 

There are already writers who have chosen to make the switch to Ukrainian, such as Volodymyr Rafeenko. Their publishers could have easily financed a translation from Russian into Ukrainian, but they chose to write in Ukrainian themselves. I’m incredibly proud of them for this decision. 

What are the taboo subjects in Ukrainian literature today?
There is an infinite amount. It seems to me that we are a society of taboos. This is due mostly to religion. 

So it’s fair to say that Ukrainian readers must wait some time before their own Hunter S. Thompson comes along, don’t you think?

At the same time, there are a lot of promising young authors who are bringing up taboo subjects in their writing, and readers who are eagerly waiting for these texts. Taboo subjects don't always have to cause a scandal. They should be mentioned with the intention of starting a dialogue that puts an end to tension and leads to a greater sense of understanding. Bringing up taboo subjects purely to create a scandal doesn’t interest me. You see this with our government all the time. Whenever politicians have to address an important issue they change the topic—they bring up the question of language, for example. They do this not to instruct but rather to distract the public. 

In the American publishing world, there is a big movement for translators to get more recognition, spearheaded by award-winning translators such as Jennifer Croft. Do you agree with this?

We include the names of translators on all of the books that we publish at The Library of Babel and Civilization. I consider the name of the translator, visually speaking, to be an essential part of the book cover’s composition. The translator’s name is imperative. If it’s not on the cover for whatever reason, then it should be somewhere visible—on the first or last page, for example. Everything you read in a book is thanks to the translator. I don’t mean to discredit the role of the author by saying this, but the role of the translator is incredibly important. 

I know that Yuri Andukhovych edited your book of short stories. What was it like to work with him?

It was an incredible experience. It should be said that an editor is very important when we consider the final version of the book. During the writing process, I’m too close to the text, and my judgment is blurred. An editor tells you when a character or their choices do not serve the plot. Sometimes, even a simple word needs to be changed to make a sentence truly great. I was thrilled and nervous when Yuri proposed to be the editor of my book. I thought I could only press on some points if I didn’t agree. How can you tell a writer as great as Yuri Andrukhovych “No, I disagree with you”? Yet during the sessions, we met, for several hours at a time, and we worked really well together. I recall after the first meeting, which lasted for more than four hours, being impressed by how deeply he understood me as an author. His suggestions helped me improve as a writer. 

You’re from Ivano-Frankivsk. What is it about this city that has produced so many talented writers? 

You have probably heard about the so-called Stanislav Phenomenon (the historical name of Ivano-Frankivsk: Stanislawow/Stanislou/Stanislaviv) which is a kind of whimsical attempt to explain this. Time, space, place - all of these things make the writing process more comfortable. Ivano-Frankivsk, as a city, provides you with all of these things. Very much like Chernivtsi. They’re ideal places for creating literature.