Join Olia Hercules as she introduces Strong Roots - the story of a century in Ukraine told through four generations of one extraordinary family. From Olia’s grandmother’s deportation to snowy wastelands under Stalin, to her own parents’ flight from Ukraine when their town was occupied in 2022, it is an ode to the land, to ideas of home and belonging, and to family stories and recipes passed down through generations. It is an account of resilience in the hardest of circumstances, and a celebration of the human spirit.
‘It is, I believe, an important story to tell just now’ says Olia, ‘both the history of my own family, and that of millions of Ukrainians at home and in exile around the world. I hope Strong Roots helps people to understand and to connect with Ukrainians, because it is also a universal, human story that should resonate for so many.’
Olia Hercules is the author of four cookbooks. Her first book, Mamushka, won the Fortnum and Mason Award for best debut cookbook and was followed by Kaukasis, Summer Kitchens and Home Food. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Olia co-founded a global initiative to raise money for Ukraine through cooking, #CookForUkraine, with her friend Alissa Timoshkina, which has raised over £2 million pounds to date.
Presented by Elmbridge Borough Council in association with Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre
Bookselling partner: Cobham Bookshop