Ukrainian Author Artem Chapay's Book 'Not Born for War' to be Translated into Chinese and Korean
Artem Chapay, a Ukrainian writer, is set to have his book 'Not Born for War' translated into Chinese and Korean, marking a significant milestone in the international reach of his work.
The book by Ukrainian author Artem Chapay, titled 'Not Born for War,' will soon be translated into Chinese and Korean. This news was reported by the Ukrinform news agency and became known through a publication on the Chytomo platform.
The Chinese translation will be published by the Taiwanese publishing house Cite Publishing Group, while the Korean edition will be the ninth translation of this book. Notably, the author has managed to secure agreements for eight translations within just one year, indicating a considerable interest in his work beyond Ukraine's borders.
'Not Born for War' is an essay published by the Ukrainian 'Vydavnytstvo 21.' On the publisher's website, it is described as a 'bare narrative about the inner transformations of a person who has chosen to become a soldier.' According to the author himself, this book was primarily written for foreign audiences and serves as a sort of 'explanation' about the war and the experiences of individuals caught in its epicenter.
Previously, Chapay shared that his goal was to convey to readers abroad the realities of war in Ukraine and the experiences of those who directly face its consequences. One of the first foreign editions to be released was the French translation, published in February 2024 by Bayard.
Moreover, in April 2025, the independent American publishing house Seven Stories Press plans to release a book titled 'Ordinary People Don’t Carry Machine Guns: Thoughts on War.' This publication has already become part of The Washington Post's list of the best nonfiction of 2025, underscoring its significance and relevance.
In December 2025, it was announced that the book would also be published in the Netherlands under the title 'Gewone mensen dragen geen machinegeweren' (Ordinary People Don’t Carry Machine Guns) by the publishing house De Bezige Bij. This is yet another step toward expanding the international presence of Chapay's works.
Artem Chapay is a Ukrainian writer, translator, reporter, and traveler, and he is a member of the Ukrainian PEN. He is the author of several travelogues, a book of war reports, as well as novels 'Red Zone' and 'Ponaikhali,' along with the book 'Dad on Parental Leave.' Since February 2022, Chapay has been serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which has also influenced his creativity and the themes of his works.
It is worth noting that this year, Artem Chapay's novels 'Vyvitruiuvannia' and Yuriy Andrukhovych's 'Radio Night' will also be released in English translation by American publishers Seven Stories Press and New York Review Books, respectively. This indicates a growing interest in Ukrainian literature on the international stage.
Photo: Literaturfest München, Facebook
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