"The Invention of Hugo Cabret": Drawing a City, Flipping Through Scenes. A Conversation with Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick, Martha Sakhno, Natalie Nougayrède
22.10.2026, 18:30
Lviv Cultural Hub, 6 Kniazia Roman St.
We invite you to a conversation with author and illustrator Brian Selznick, continuing the series "Let's Have a City."
The story of the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007) takes place in Paris in 1931. Twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan, lives inside the Montparnasse train station, tending to the clocks and trying to repair a mechanical man left behind by his father. His story intertwines with that of the owner of a small toy shop at the station—a shop that hides far more than meets the eye and leads readers back to the dawn of cinema. The book won the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations, and in 2011, Martin Scorsese adapted it into the film Hugo, which was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. In 2023, ARTBOOKS published the Ukrainian edition of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, translated by Marta Sakhno.
It is not quite a novel and not quite a graphic novel in the traditional sense: the narrative unfolds through alternating scenes—some told in words, others through illustrations alone. During the discussion, we'll reflect on the author's method: how images and text come together to form a cohesive story; how framing, perspective, and the rhythm of turning pages shape the reading experience; and whether there is something cinematic in the very architecture of the book.
1930s Paris plays a special role in the book—the train station, clocks, streets, and rooftops of the city invite close examination and can be seen as visual evidence of everyday life at that time. We'll discuss how the author constructed this image, what sources he used, and why the train station—one of the most striking symbols of the modern city—was chosen as the setting.
During the event, guests will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of the book and have it signed by the author.
The event will be held in English, with simultaneous translation into Ukrainian.
Participants of the conversation
Brian Selznick
American illustrator and author best known as the writer of The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007), Wonderstruck (2011), The Marvels (2015), Kaleidoscope (2021) and Big Tree (2023). He won the 2008 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration recognizing The Invention of Hugo Cabret. He is also known for his illustrations for children’s books, including the covers for the anniversary editions of the Harry Potter series published by Scholastic.
Martha Sakhno
She is a translator with 10 years of experience; she has more than 20 publications to her credit. She works primarily with children’s and young adult literature, but also has experience with nonfiction, noir detective novels, and cookbooks.
Natalie Nougayrède
Journalist, editor of the re/visions magazine, former editor-in-chief of Le Monde, and member of The Guardian’s editorial board from 2015 to 2020. She has written about the transformations in Central Europe following 1989, particularly in Ukraine, where she lived from 1995 to 1996. Recipient of the Albert Londres Prize for her journalistic coverage of the war in Chechnya.
The event is organized by the Center for Urban History and ARTBOOKS Publishing House in partnership with the Lviv Cultural Hub.
Credits
Cover Image: Hugo on the railway station / illustration by Brian Selznick