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Olga Tokarczuk: Wrocław can be the centre of Europe. The first day of the International Book Fair in Frankfurt has come to an end [report and photos]
The Polish stand, organised by the Book Institute, has been very popular - visitors are attracted by the name of the new Nobel Prize winner, a refreshed look, as well as the attractive offerings of Polish exhibitors and the potential of our book market.
On Wednesday, 16th October, Olga Tokarczuk gave a short interview on the famous Blue sofa (talks on this sofa are broadcast by the TV station ZDF). The talk with journalists Gert Scobel and Sandra Kegel revolved around Europe, the concept of centre, periphery, and borders. It wasn't the first time that the Nobel Prize winner came out in favour of what was outside the centre ("I am in favour of ex-centricity", she smiled). Asked whether Europe has its centre, she said that it is not permanent. After Berlin and then London were considered to be the most important point to which everyone was drawn, there is nothing to prevent the centre of Europe from finding itself in Poland, for example in Wrocław, in 10-20 years' time.
Commenting on the question of the currently "painfully" divided society in Poland, she noted that we are in the process of civilisation and economic changes, and a new community is being formed. She stressed, however, that ultimately, as literature proves and helps to prove, such differences are superficial. In fact, at a deep level, we are all alike, sharing basic needs and desires. "I believe that we have more similarities than differences," she concluded.
The concept of borders between countries was also discussed in a similar spirit. The writer talked about the absurdity of experiencing them. Created at some point by man so that they could feel more secure and separate from strangers, today, they lose their power and meaning (although man and their physical bodies are still the weakest link in the world of the dynamic flow of information or goods).
Talking about the dark cards in the history of Poland and people in general, as well as the reaction to them, she pointed out that evil and cruelty are by no means confined to history – now, they are experienced by the Kurds, for example.
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Below, we present photos from the Polish stand:
Gallery
