The Polish Book Institute

During the annual convention of The Modern Language Association (MLA), held from January 3^rd-6^th in Chicago, it was announced that the American poet Alissa Valles received the Aldo and Jeanne Scaglioni Prize for translating the volume Nasze życie rośnie ("Our Life Grows") by Ryszard Krynicki, published by New York Review Books with the support of the Polish Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

The translation of Zniewolony umysł  (“The Captive Mind”) into the Arabic language has recently been published. The translation of Czesław Miłosz's classic essay was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

A translation of Grzegorz Motyka’s Wołyń 43 (“Volhynia '43) has recently been published in Russia. The translation by Valentina Vendeeva was supported by the Polish Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

The translation of Król (“The King”) by Gábor Körner has been published in Hungary. The publication of Szczepan Twardoch's novel was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Poland's regaining independence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department for Cooperation with Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad founded a hundred identical library sets for educational centres operating within Polish communities outside Poland.

The Polish Book Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute London and the Polish Cultural Institute New York are now accepting nominations for this year’s edition of the Found in Translation award, honoring the best translation of Polish literature into English in 2018.

A translation of the novel by Szczepan Twardoch Morfina (“Morphine”) has been published in Croatia. Emilio Nuicia's translation was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

A translation of Król Maciuś Pierwszy (“King Matt the First”) was published in Taiwan. The book was translated by Wei-Yun Lin-Górecka. The publishing of Janusz Korczak's book was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

A translation of the novel by Szczepan Twardoch Morfina (“Morphine”) has been published in Croatia. Emilio Nuicia's translation was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

The translation of Kosmos (“Cosmos”) has been published in Bulgaria. The book was translated by Katerina Kokinova. The publication of Witold Gombrowicz's work was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

In Sweden, the translation of Drzewa (‘The Book of Trees’) was published. The book was translated by Tomas Håkanson. The publication of the book by Paweł Socha (illustrations) and Wojciech Grajkowski (text) was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

The translation of Rok myśliwego (“A Year of the Hunter”) has been published in Estonia. The book was translated by Hendrik Lindepuu. The publication of Czesław Miłosz's work was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

Nominations for the PEN America Awards were announced yesterday. In the category "Poetry in Translation", among the ten nominated entries, there were as many as three translations of works by Polish authors: a collection of poems by Jacek Dehnel Aperture translated by Karen Kovacik, Asymmetry by Adam Zagajewski, and Pan Tadeusz: The Last Foray in Lithuania translated by Bill Johnston. The latter was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

A translation of Esej o duszy polskiej (“An Essay on the Polish Soul”) by Constantin Geambaşu has been published in Romania. The publication of Ryszard Legutko's work was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

On 29^th November, translator Sergei Moreino received one of the most prestigious literary awards in Russia, The Andrei Bely Prize.

The translation of the classic collection of essays by Zbigniew Herbert, Barbarzyńca w ogrodzie (“Barbarian in the Garden”), translated by Henryk Siewierski, was published in Brazil. The publication was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

The 20th International Book Fair Non/Fiction begun on Wednesday, November 28^th, at the Moscow Artist's House. The most important industry event of the Russian book market is expected to attract 300 exhibitors from 20 countries and more than 30,000 visitors - professionals and book lovers. The Polish stand at Non/fiction is organised by the Book Institute with the support of the Polish Institute in Moscow.

Włodzimierz Kowalewski, prose writer, literary critic and teacher, talks about novels he is currently working on, about Zbigniew Herbert as a generational idol and authority, his fascination with Żeromski and Julian Wołoszynowski, the disappearing ethos of the writer-sage, the impression À rebours by Joris-Karl Huysmans made on him in his youth, the literature that avoids important subjects and about what is missing in Polish literature after 1989.

This Thursday, a translation of Józef Wittlin's classic novel Sól ziemi (“The Salt of The Earth”), translated by Patrick John Corness, will be published in Great Britain. The publication was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

In the United States, a translation of Na nieludzkiej ziemi (“Inhuman Land”) has been released within the prestigious NYRB Classics series. The book was translated by the winner of this year's Transatlantyk Award, Antonia Lloyd-Jones. The publication of Józef Czapski's work was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

In Serbia, the book Książeczka o człowieku translated by Ljubica Rosić, an eminent translator from Polish into the Serbian language, was published. The publication of Roman Ingarden’s work was supported by the Polish Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

A translation of Adam Mickiewicz's sonnets was published in Great Britain. The sonnets were translated by Charles S. Kraszewski. The bilingual edition was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

Writer Anna Kańtoch, five-time winner of the Janusz A. Zajdel Award, talks about books that have made an impression on her in recent years, militia crime stories read in her childhood, debt to Agatha Christie, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Andrzej Sapkowski, and reveals which masterpiece of Polish literature she was not able to struggle through.

Several hundred posters with excerpts of Zbigniew Herbert's poems appeared on Tuesday in the carriages of the Budapest underground. The campaign "Poems on the Underground", which will last until 20^th December, was inaugurated by the representatives of the Polish Book Institute and the Polish Institute in Budapest.

A translation of the book W morze! (“To the Sea!”) was published in Spain. The book was translated by Katarzyna Mołoniewicz and Abel Murcia Soriano. The publication of Piotr Karski's book was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

Sixty authors, about 100 years of Polish literature after 1918 – on Tuesday, there was a premiere of the book Being Poland: A New History of Polish Literature and Culture since 1918, a history of Polish contemporary literature.

Last Thursday in Venice, a new, second ever in Italian, translation of Pan Tadeusz was published. The epic poem, translated by the Polish philologist Silvano De Fanti, was published by the Marsilio publishing house in Venice. The publication was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

Antonia Lloyd-Jones and Jennifer Croft reached the final of the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation. The translators were nominated for translations of Żanna Słoniowska's novel Dom z witrażem (The House with the Stained-Glass Window) and Olga Tokarczuk Bieguni ("Flights"), respectively. Both translations were published thanks to the support of the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

From 5 to 18 November, passengers of the London Underground will be able to read excerpts from Zbigniew Herbert's The Envoy of Mr. Cogito translated by Alissa Valles, Jarosław Marek Rymkiewicz's  Oktostychy translated by Marek Kazmierski, as well as a new translation of Pan Tadeusz by Bill Johnston, winner of the Transatlantyk and Found in Translation awards granted by the Book Institute.

The Polish Shelf is a project for British libraries, as part of which they can receive and include works by Polish authors in their book collection. During the inauguration, accompanying events will also take place in other participating institutions. The project is carried out by the Book Institute in cooperation with the Polish Embassy in London and the Polish Cultural Institute in London.

A translation of a two-volume selection of texts by Janusz Korczak, How to Love a Child and Other Selected Works, translated by Benjamin Paloff, Danuta Borchardt, Sean Bye, Julia Sherwood, Alissa Valles, Anna Zaranko and Marta Dziurosz has been published in the United States and Great Britain. The publication was supported by the Polish Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

In Slovakia, the translation of Modlitwa o deszcz (‘Praying for Rain’) was published. The book was translated by Michala Benešova. The publication of the book by Wojciech Jagielski was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

In the Czech Republic, the translation of M.U.Z.Y.K.A. (‘M.U.S.I.C.’) was published. The book was translated by Ondřej Blabolil. The publication of the work by Michał Libera and Michał Mendyk with illustrations by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielińscy was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

In the United States, a translation of Julian Kornhauser’s selected poems I'm Half of Your Heart: New and Selected Poems, 1967―2017 was published. The book was translated by Piotr Florczyk. The publication was supported by the Polish Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

The British publisher Gollancz and the American Orbit have purchased the rights to publish a translation of Andrzej Sapkowski's Trylogia husycka (‘The Hussite Trilogy’). The series will be translated by David French, the translator of The Witcher.

Frankfurter Buchmesse is the most important industry event in the publishing world. Every year, about 300 thousand visitors take part in it. The Polish Book Institute is present there as it is the organiser of the Polish stand. The fair started on Wednesday and will last until Sunday.

The translation of Olga Tokarczuk's Bieguni (‘Flights’) has reached the finale of the prestigious American literary award National Book Award. Together with four other entries, it was nominated in the category of books translated into English. The winner will be announced on 14 November. The translation of Flights by Jennifer Croft was created thanks to co-financing from the Polish Book Institute as part of the ©Poland Translation Programme.

On the occasion of the centenary of Poland's regaining independence, the Polish Book Institute has prepared a special catalogue “Poland - History Worth Knowing for the first time. The catalogue will be presented at the Frankfurter Buchmesse book fair. It will introduce works about the history of Poland which are considered the most interesting from the point of view of both foreign publishers and readers.

In Croatia, a translation of Ufam. Śladami Świętej Siostry Faustyny (‘Trust: In Saint Faustina's Footsteps’) was published. The book was translated by Goran Andrijanić. The publication of the work by Grzegorz Górny and Janusz Rosikoń was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

In Sweden, a translation of Gra na wielu bębenkach ("Playing on Many Drums") was published. The book was translated by Jan Henrik Swahn. The publication of the collection of short stories by Olga Tokarczuk was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

In Romania, a translation of Farby wodne ("Watercolours") was published. The book was translated by Cristina Godun. The publication of the reportage by Lidia Ostałowska was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

In Macedonia, a translation of Uwikłanie (“Entanglement”) was published. The book was translated by Filip Dimiewski. The publication of the novel by Zygmunt Miłoszewski was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

In Germany, the translation of Handlarz wspomnień (‘The Story Seller’) was published. The book was translated by Simone Falk. The publication of the work by Stanisław Karski was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

Yesterday, the English translation of Prowadź swój pług przez kości umarłych (“Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead”) was published. The book was translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, a winner of the Transatlantic Award.

In Estonia, the translation of Proszę mnie przytulić (“Hug Me, Please!”) was published. The book was translated by Hendrik Lindepuu. The publication of the work by Przemysław Wechterowicz and Emilia Dziubak was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

In Hungary, the Hungarian translation of Pszczoły (“The Book of Bees”) was published. The book was translated by Viktoria Kellermann. The publication of the book by Paweł Socha (illustrations) and Wojciech Grajkowski (text) was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

In Ukraine, the translation of Narzeczona Schulza  (“Schulz’s Fiancée”) was published. The book was translated by Wiera Meniok. The publication of the work by Agata Tuszyńska was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

In Germany, the translation of Drzewa (‘The Book of Trees’) was published. The book was translated by Thomas Weiler. The publication of the book by Paweł Socha (illustrations) and Wojciech Grajkowski (text) was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

We are pleased to announce that the selections for the first round of publishers’ submissions to the ©POLAND Translation Program in 2018 has been made. Applications submitted by 4th April 2018 were considered.

In Taiwan, the Chinese translation of Masz prawa, człowieku!  (‘You Have Rights, Human!’) was published. The book was translated by Wei-Yun Lin Górecka. The publication of the work by Iwona Zabielska-Stadnik and Małgorzata Węgrzecka was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

In South Korea, the translation of Czas Pogardy (Time of Contempt) was published. The book was translated by Jiwone Lee. The publication of the work by Andrzej Sapkowski was supported by the Book Institute as part of the© POLAND Translation Programme

Last Monday, the translation of Guguły ("Swallowing Mercury") was published. The book was translated by Nathalie Le Marchand. The publication of the work by Wioletta Grzegorzewska was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme

On Wednesday, 22^nd August, an international book fair in Beijing begins. The Beijing International Book Fair is the largest book fair in Asia. Each year, over two and a half thousand publishers from 90 countries worldwide showcase their books here, and the event is visited by over 300,000 readers.

In June, the book Jak to działa? Zwierzęta (How Does It Work? Animals) translated by Iryna Tuchapska was published. The publication was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme

In May, the Chinese translation of O.G.R.Ó.D. (G.A.R.D.E.N.) was published. The book was translated by Mi Zhang and Bartosz Gauza. The publication of the work by Ewa Kołaczyńska and Adam Wójcicki was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

In June, the book Refugees translated by Lothar Quinkenstein was published. The publication of the work by Henryk Grynberg was supported by the Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

Karin Wolff passed away on 29^th July after a short, serious illness. The translator’s funeral took place yesterday at the main cemetery in Frankfurt (Oder).

In Croatia, Olga Tokarczuk’s “The Books of Jacob” translated by Mladen Martić has just been published. The publication was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

In Romania, the selection of poems by Cyprian Norwid translated by Constantin Geambaşu has just been published. The publication was supported by the Book Institute as part of the ©POLAND Translation Programme.

Magdalena Parys received the Literary Award of the City of Quimper for the novel Tunel (‘Tunnel’), which was published last year in French under the title 188 mètres sous Berlin. The publication of the novel was supported by The Polish Book Institute as part of the © POLAND Translation Programme.

Three translations of Polish books have been nominated for the prestigious National Translation Awards (NTA) administered by the American Literary Translators Association (ALTA). Among the nominees, there are Clare Cavanagh for the translation of Ryszard Krynicki, Bill Johnston, the winner of the Transatlantic Award, for the translation of Julia Fiedorczuk, as well as Eliza Marciniak for the translation of Wioletta Grzegorzewska.

Tor Books, a part of Macmillan Publishers, acquired the rights to the English-language editions of Elżbieta Cherezińska’s novels Harda (“The Widow Queen”) and Królowa (“The Queen”). In recent years, the writer was actively supported by the Polish Book Institute, which promoted her works in the Books from Poland catalogue in Frankfurt, whereas the writer herself was present at the Institute's stand at the Svět Knihy book fair in Prague. The Widow Queen will be released in January 2021.

The seventh seminar for foreign publishers that took place in Kraków on June 22-23 under the auspices of the Book Institute, was devoted to children's and young adult literature. The guests of the seminar told us about the promotion of the literature for young readers in their countries.

Over the past Friday and Saturday, the seventh edition of the seminar for foreign publishers took place in Cracow. The two-day event was devoted to children’s and youth literature. Twenty publishers from around the world had an opportunity to meet Polish editors and illustrators.

The Transatlantyk Prize ceremony took place on Friday 22 June at 19.00. Antonia Lloyd-Jones became the 14^th edition's prizewinner. The laurel was presented in the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Kraków.

Antonia Lloyd Jones, the winner of Transatlantyk Prize for 2018, studied Russian and Ancient Greek at Oxford. She received also the prestigious Found in Translation Award twice – in 2009 for the transaltion of The Last Supper by Paweł Huelle, and a lifetime achievement award in 2012. She was interested in foreign languages since childhood, but she has only learnt Polish as an adult.

The most prestigious award for distinguished ambassadors of Polish literature abroad was this year presented to Antonia Lloyd-Jones, one of the most important translators of Polish literature into English. The prize was awarded by a board led by the Polish Book Institute director Dariusz Jaworski.

The seventh Seminar for Foreign Publishers has just begun. The two-day event was opened by the Book Institute director, Dariusz Jaworski. The seminar is devoted to children's and young adult literature.

This Friday and Saturday, the 7^th edition of the seminar for foreign publishers will take place in Cracow. During the seminar, the Polish Book Institute presents foreign editors and literary agents with the most interesting phenomena of the Polish publishing market. For the second time, the seminar will be devoted to children’s and youth literature.

This Friday, June 22^nd, at 7.00 pm at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Cracow, the Transatlantyk Prize will be presented for the fourteenth time – it is the annual award of the Polish Book Institute for an eminent promoter of Polish literature abroad. Its laureate can be a translator, publisher, critic, or the animator of cultural life

The Polish Book Institute, together with a group of experts, prepared the catalogue ‘Polish Books for Children & Young Adults’, which includes the most interesting works in the field of native children’s and young adults’ literature. The catalogue will have its premiere during the 7^th seminar for foreign publishers organised by the Polish Book Institute. This is the second time youth literature will be discussed there.

On 9^th June in the Streatham Tate Library in London took place the second edition of ‘Night in the Library’ organised by the project Poles Connect in collaboration with the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London. This year, the Polish Institute of Culture, which took patronage over the event, joined the campaign, and the Book Institute donated a set of books for children.

At the end of May, during the Kyiv’s Book Arsenal, the biggest literary festival in Ukraine, Ukrainian edition of Professor Włodzimierz Suleja’s book Józef Piłsudski had its premiere. The translation of the Marshal’s popularizing biography was published with support from the Polish Institute in Kyiv.

Thirty-three children aged 8 to 13 years took part in the “Library Night” organised by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto. This form of reading incentive was offered to the children from Polish families for the first time.

The next round of submissions for the ©Poland Translation Program will
take place from 1 September to 31 October.

Poland, the Guest of Honour Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2018 was the first to take the stand at the Business Club with a presentation of the Polish Book Market – Rights, the Polish Market in Practise, by the director of Poland's State Publishing Dr. Lukasz Michalski.

Nobel Prize laureates' literature, award winning illustrators ancient Islamic manuscripts and Polish cuisine presented by the Polish delegation at the seven days fair.

The Man Booker International Prize today reveals the shortlist of six books in contention for the 2018 prize, which celebrates the finest works of translated fiction from around the world. The £50,000 prize for the winning book will be divided equally between its author and translator.

Between April 25 and May 1, Poland will be the guest of honor at the 28th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, one of the biggest events of its kind in the Middle East.

British libraries have received over a thousand copies of books by Polish authors. This is part of the “Polish Bookshelf Project,” carried out by the Book Institute, the Polish Embassy, and the Polish Institute in London, in cooperation with the Literka Association, European Welfare Association, and the Polish Educational Society.