The Light of War – Michael Ondaatje (Світло війни), Ukrainian Hardcover

The Light of War (Світло війни) by Michael Ondaatje is a strikingly rich post-World War II tale set in the recovering streets of London. Fourteen-year-old Nathaniel and his sister Rachel, orphaned by the war, fall under the care of a mysterious figure known only as “Butterfly.” The pair must navigate a world filled with shadows: the guilt and silence of their past, cryptic messages, and the moral ambiguity of their guardian’s criminal undertakings.

Amidst ruins and new alliances, they come to understand that protection can be found in unlikely places and that the wartime urgency to survive often calls for astonishing courage. Ondaatje’s storytelling blends atmospheric depth with emotional precision to explore themes of family, identity, and resilience.

This Ukrainian hardcover, translated by Oleksandr Rudenko, is published by KSD (Клуб Сімейного Дозвілля) as part of their CULTREAD series in 2025. It spans 272 pages, measures 205 × 135 mm, and is printed on high-quality offset paper in an elegant, minimalist format—perfect for thoughtful young adult and adult readers.