Yaroslav Trofimov wins the 2024 Peterson Literary Prize
TORONTO, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, LONDON, KYIV – Yaroslav Trofimov has won the 2024 Peterson Literary Prize for his book Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine’s War of Independence (Penguin Press). The winner was announced at the Peterson Literary Fund’s awards gala held in the Guildhall of the historic Old Mill Toronto on November 30, 2024.
December 2, 2024
TORONTO, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, LONDON, KYIV – Yaroslav Trofimov has won the 2024 Peterson Literary Prize for his book Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine’s War of Independence (Penguin Press). The winner was announced at the Peterson Literary Fund’s awards gala held in the Guildhall of the historic Old Mill Toronto on November 30, 2024.
The winner is awarded $25,000 and the book’s publisher receives $5,000.
The Peterson Literary Prize for nonfiction is a biennial international prize that recognizes the best books, written in English or Ukrainian, that promote a better understanding of Ukraine-related topics relevant to a global audience.
Our Enemies Will Vanish was one of six books shortlisted for this year’s Peterson Literary Prize. Shortlisted finalists each receive $5,000.
In his book, author Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign-affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, gives a riveting account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the heroism of the Ukrainian resistance.
Trofimov spent months at the heart of the conflict, tracing the war’s key moments—from the battle for Kyiv to the grueling battles with the Wagner Group over Bakhmut. The story of the epic bravery of the Ukrainian people is also deeply personal for the author, who grew up in Kyiv, where his family has lived for generations.
The selection of this year’s literary-prize winner and shortlist were made by members of the jury comprised of Canadian political scientist and jury chair Lisa Shymko, returning jurors Nadia Gereliouk, author and political scientist Alexander Motyl, literary scholar Marko Robert Stech, as well as British-born journalist Askold Krushelnycky.
According to Lisa Shymko, chair of the Peterson Literary Fund jury, “Trofimov’s book is exceptional” because it transports the reader from the corridors of power to the gritty trenches of the frontline.” Our Enemies Will Vanish is a powerful account of Ukraine’s fight for survival and its refusal to surrender, which Shymko says impressed jurors with its “meticulous detail from both the human and geopolitical context.”
About the Peterson Literary Fund:
The Peterson Literary Fund was established by Canadian philanthropist Stanley Peterson, whose dream was to create a literary fund with Ukrainian roots and a global reach. The fund operates under the auspices of the Toronto-based BCU Foundation. The fund encourages publications that confront disinformation and dismantle Russian colonial narratives. In addition to its cornerstone literary prize, the fund offers translated book awards as well as grant programs for writers, translators, and publishers.
Yaroslav Trofimov (centre) holds the 2024 Peterson Literary Prize crystal award. To his right: jury chair Lisa Shymko and jury member Marko R. Stech. To his immediate left: jury member Askold Krushelnycky and BCU Foundation chair Bob Leshchyshen. (Photo credit: Anna Sudyk)
Author Yaroslav Trofimov, winner of the 2024 Peterson Literary Prize for nonfiction, delivers his remarks at the awards dinner in Toronto (Photo credit: Anna Sudyk)
Shortlist for the 2024 Peterson Literary Prize is Announced
TORONTO, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, LONDON, KYIV. The Peterson Literary Fund at BCU Foundation has announced six books shortlisted for the 2024 Peterson Literary Prize for nonfiction. The biennial international prize recognizes the best nonfiction books, written in English or Ukrainian, that promote a better understanding of Ukraine-related topics relevant to a global audience.
August 27, 2024
TORONTO, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, LONDON, KYIV. The Peterson Literary Fund at BCU Foundation has announced six books shortlisted for the 2024 Peterson Literary Prize for nonfiction. The biennial international prize recognizes the best nonfiction books, written in English or Ukrainian, that promote a better understanding of Ukraine-related topics relevant to a global audience. The Peterson Literary Prize is valued at $30,000 CAD. The winning author will receive a prize of $25,000 and an additional $5,000 will be awarded to the book’s publisher. Shortlisted finalists will each receive $5,000 CAD. The winner will be announced at the Peterson Literary Fund’s annual awards ceremony and dinner on November 30, 2024, in Toronto.According to Lisa Shymko, Jury Chair, “As a result of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war on Ukraine, we have seen an unprecedented number of outstanding books published on topics related to Ukraine, its resistance, and its place on the global stage. Consistent with our founding benefactor’s vision, the Jury has chosen books that dismantle Russian imperialist narratives and also meet the diverse tastes of an international audience of readers.” The shortlist was selected by the 2024 Peterson Literary Fund Jury: Lisa Shymko (Jury Chair), Nadia Gereliouk (Toronto), Askold Krushelnycky (London-Washington-Kyiv), Alexander Motyl (New York), and Marko R. Stech (Toronto). 2024 Peterson Literary Prize Shortlist of Finalists:
Invasion: Russia’s Bloody War and Ukraine’s Fight for Survival
Author: Luke Harding
Publisher: Faber & Faber (UK) Language: English
Bakhmut [Бахмут]
Author: Myroslav Laiuk
Publisher: Ukraīner Publishing House (Ukraine) Language: Ukrainian
De-occupation. Stories of Ukrainian resistance. 2022
[Деокупація. Історії опору українців. 2022]
Author: Bohdan Logvynenko
Publisher: Ukraīner Publishing House (Ukraine) Language: Ukrainian
Killer in the Kremlin
Author: John Sweeney
Publisher: Bantam Press (UK)
Language: English
Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine’s War of Independence
Author: Yaroslav Trofimov
Publisher: Penguin Press (USA)
Language: English
War and Punishment: Putin, Zelensky, and the Path to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Author: Mikhail Zygar
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (USA)
Language: English
About the Peterson Literary Fund:
The Peterson Literary Fund was established by Canadian philanthropist Stanley Peterson, whose generosity and far-sighted vision created a literary fund with Ukrainian roots and a global reach. The Peterson Literary Fund operates under the auspices of the Toronto-based BCU Foundation. Launched in 2021, the fund oversees an international literary prize, several translated book awards, as well as grants for writers, translators, and publishers. In accordance with the wishes of the Peterson Literary Fund’s late benefactor, the fund is managed by Canadian political scientist Lisa Shymko, who also serves as Jury Chair.Prize winners are announced at the fund’s year-end awards ceremony held annually in Toronto.Click to watch last year’s awards gala keynote speaker, author and journalist Anne Applebaum. Subscribe to the Peterson Literary Fund’s new YouTube channel.For more information about the fund, visit PetersonLiteraryFund.com For media inquiries, contact the Peterson Literary Fund office: Tel. (416) 763-7005, office@petersonliteraryfund.com