The Bookseller – Rights – William Collins publishes two books by the late Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina

A book of eyewitness accounts of the war in Ukraine by Victoria Amelina is published posthumously by William Collins. Publication for A look at women, a look at war: A diary about war and justice is planned for February 2025. A novel is to follow in 2026.

Amelina, who was killed in a rocket attack in Kramatorsk exactly one year ago, was a well-known novelist and children’s book author in Ukraine.

Arabella Pike has acquired the rights to her unfinished non-fiction book at Williams Collins from Emma Shercliff at Laxfield Literary Associates. It is published in the US by St Martin’s Press and translation rights have been sold in France (Gallimard), Italy (Guanda), Korea and Georgia.

Amelina’s book follows 11 journalists, human rights activists, lawyers and volunteers documenting war crimes in Ukraine as the war continues, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk, and it describes Amelina’s own transformation from novelist and mother to war crimes researcher.

Pike said: “After hearing the horrific news of Victoria’s death, it was a small consolation to know that her vital book would be published in English. We at William Collins are so proud to publish her account of the horrific war crimes taking place every day in Ukraine and deeply regret that this must happen posthumously.”

Arabella Tetyana Teren, Director of PEN Ukraine, said: “This book is the voice of Ukraine fighting for its freedom and future. This book is the voice of a writer who, in the most difficult time for her country, decided to testify about the war crimes committed by the Russians and demand punishment of the perpetrators. This book was born out of love – the author’s love for her country and its heroines, and our love for the talented Ukrainian writer, brave woman and our dear friend whose life Russia took.”

Shercliff said: “Finding the right home for Victoria’s work has been an enormous responsibility and I am delighted to be able to entrust this precious book to Arabella and her colleagues at William Collins, who know how important it is to Victoria’s many friends, colleagues and readers around the world. Victoria’s personal story and the unfinished nature of the book make it a deeply emotional reading experience; it underscores both Victoria’s loss and the ongoing need for these incredible women like Victoria to bear witness to the war crimes that continue to take place on a daily basis in Ukraine.”

Amelina, who was 37 when she died, worked in high-tech for ten years before becoming a writer and living in the US in 2019/20. She travelled widely to speak about her work with Truth Hounds, and her poetry, essays and prose have appeared in publications such as the Irish Times, the Dublin Review of Books, The Guardian and the New Yorker. Victoria was the founder of a literary festival in a town called New York in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.

William Collins will also publish Amelina’s novel, Dom’s Dream Kingdomin February 2026.