Dutch edition of Artem Chapeye’s ‘Ordinary People Don’t Carry Machine Guns’ set for 2026 release

In February 2026, “Gewone mensen dragen geen machinegeweren,” the Dutch edition of “Ordinary People Don’t Carry Machine Guns: Thought on War” (originally published by Vydavnytstvo 21 under the title “Ne narodzhenni dlya viyny” (Not Born for War) by Ukrainian fiction and non-fiction author Artem Chapeye will be released. The book will be issued by the Dutch publishing house De Bezige Bij (busy bee), and was translated by Tobias Wals.

According to Chapeye the publishing house has a unique history. It was established during the Resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands as a counteraction to the propaganda idea of “one people.”

The foreword to the Dutch edition was written by Tommy Wieringa, one of the most prominent contemporary Dutch writers. The author became interested in the book after reading the English translation, recommended by Andrey Kurkov. In his Facebook post, Chapeye thanked for support and attention to the book.

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“In this book, Chapeye reflects on his experience of war, uncovering his motivations, fears, and his transformed relationship with the world. A pacifist who became a soldier, Chapeye examines his role in defending Ukrainians from the Russian army and his duties as a father, writer, and fighter. He attempts to understand the far-reaching decisions that deeply influence both individuals and society: many of his fellow soldiers never expected to go to war, while others chose to leave the country. He also keeps wondering what his young children are doing at home and how they are feeling. … An indispensable book for anyone wishing to grasp how war can transform everything,” the annotation to the book reads.

RELATED: Artem Chapeye on the search for authentic Ukraine: ‘It doesn’t have to be a ‘propaganda’ story’

Main image: collage by Chytomo