(Washington) The American novelist Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the bestseller Eat, pray, love (Eat, pray, love), has canceled the announced release of her new book, the plot of which took place in Russia, due to the war in Ukraine.

“Now is not the time to publish this book,” titled The Snow Forest and set in Siberia, she said in a video message posted Monday on Instagram.

“I don’t want to add to the pain of people who have suffered and continue to suffer extreme pain. »

The author, who announced the release of the book last week, adds that over the weekend she received an “outpouring of reactions and responses from my Ukrainian readers who expressed anger, sadness, disappointment and pain at the idea that I decide to publish […] today, whatever the subject, a book that is located in Russia”.

This book, she describes, “is set in the middle of Siberia in the middle of the last century and tells the story of a group of individuals who decide to withdraw from society to resist the Soviet regime and to defend nature in the face of industrialization”.

“I’m removing this book from the publishing schedule,” concludes the novelist. “I’m working on other book projects and have made the decision to turn my attention to them. »

Elizabeth Gilbert is best known around the world for her autobiography, Eat, Pray, Love, which recounts her initiatory journey to Italy, India and Bali. The book was adapted for the screen, with superstar Julia Roberts as the author.