German publishing house Molino Verlag has canceled the release of Yuna Liebrecht's novel "Who Am I When You See Me," which was to be the author's literary debut. The book's events unfold in Kherson in the spring of 2022, immediately following the city's occupation. The decision to halt publication was made before the book was released—after the text faced criticism at the announcement stage for allegedly romanticizing war and civilian suffering.
Concept and Plot
According to the publisher's synopsis, following the occupation, a Ukrainian woman named Lucia loses almost everything that made up her life. After an explosion, she is rescued by a Russian soldier whose face is hidden behind a mask. When the characters meet again, a secret romantic relationship begins between them. At the same time, the description emphasizes: the better the heroine gets to know the man, the more obvious it becomes that love cannot eliminate violence or guilt. Their intimacy is presented as a trial in which fear, compassion, and moral responsibility intertwine.
Wave of Criticism
In one of the appeals sent to the publishing house, the editorial office's sensitivity to the Ukrainian experience was questioned. The message pointed out that portraying a Russian soldier in the role of a savior and romantic partner to a civilian Ukrainian woman risks romanticizing the occupation, violence, and the suffering of the population. According to the publishing house's management, these exact complaints formed the basis of their subsequent decision.
Position of the Publisher and Author
Molino Verlag director Matthias Sluniczek reported that publication was stopped at the author's request after numerous critical messages. He explained the concept as an encounter between two people whose feelings overcome external circumstances, stating: "This is truly a novel that calls for humanity and peace and opposes war." Sluniczek also suggested that the online backlash could have been an organized campaign. Liebrecht herself expressed readiness to apologize to those offended by her text, denied any intention to romanticize war, and noted that she is not from Ukraine and did not strive to recreate the war in the novel.
Scholarship and Ruined Plans
To work on the book, the writer received a grant from a writer support organization in Baden-Württemberg. The 264-page edition was scheduled for release on November 1, and the novel's presentation was to take place on November 7 at the book festival in Baden-Baden. Following the cancellation, all these plans were ruined.
The case of Liebrecht's novel has once again drawn attention to how sensitive the topic of depicting war and occupation remains in literature: even with the peaceful intent stated by the publisher and author, the text sparked intense controversy over the boundaries of what is acceptable when describing the real suffering of the civilian population.
