(born 1966) novelist and classical philologist, lecturer at Wrocław University, one of Poland’s most popular crime writers, author of a tetralogy featuring the adventures of Crime Commissioner Eberhard Mock, the first of which is called Death in Breslau.

Marek Krajewski (b. 1966) is a crime novelist and a former university professor of classics. One of the most-translated contemporary Polish authors, he lives in Wrocław.

Marek Krajewski, the author of predominantly retro crime novels, has vastly contributed to the renaissance of Polish crime fiction in early 2000s. Owing to his success the retro crime reigned supreme within its mother genre for a decade. It began with a series of novels about the police officer Eberhard Mock, its first instalment being Death in Breslau (1999), an overnight bestseller. In his crime fiction Krajewski successfully combines elements of the noir aesthetic, most notably in the vein of Chandler’s novels, and the category known as the literature of small fatherlands. Chandleresque is the series’ protagonist. Mock is an ambiguous man, strained between good and evil, partial to many bad habits, and yet essentially likeable, mostly because of his sticking to a set of fundamental values. Also the atmosphere of Krajewski’s novels is indebted to noir fiction: it is dark and oppressive. The influence of the literature of small fatherlands can be traced in the image of the pre-war and wartime (in Festung Breslau (2006)) Wrocław, a city irreparably destroyed by the “history unleashed”.

Krajewski soon perfected his own formula of a retro crime novel, which he would consistently apply in his other books. The author’s trademark of sorts are peculiar criminal cases built around sexual crimes or the criminal activity of clandestine organizations.

The Mock series was followed by another detective series, centred around the main character of police inspector Edward Popielski and set in pre-war Lviv (followed by post-war Wrocław, where both Popielski and Mock would work on a case together in The Minotaur’s Head). Popielski is in many respects similar to Mock. Just like his counterpart from Breslau, he loves Latin, chess, the company of prostitutes, strong spirits and hearty food, and when working on a case, he won’t be bothered by procedures, and follows his own advice.

Krajewski is also a co-author. He wrote two books in collaboration with Mariusz Czubaj: The Suicide Alley [Aleja samobójców] (2008) and The Roses and the Graveyards [Róże i cmentarze] (2009). They belong to a series about Jarosław Pater, a police officer from Gdańsk, a rebellious type, a jazz lover and a football fan, a language purist who will not miss an opportunity to harass others on account of their sloppy speech. These detective novels deftly combine the elements typical of both authors’ fiction, such as: the multilayered plots, the series of grim murders, the meticulous approach to descriptions of cities, the sense of humour and irony. The last novel in the series appeared in 2009. The Dead Have Voice. True Stories [Umarli mają głos. Prawdziwe historie] (2015) is Krajewski’s collaboration with Jerzy Kawecki, a famous pathologist and crime expert. It comprises twelve ‘reportage stories’ (Kawecki’s preferred term), fictionalized accounts of difficult, complicated investigations the pathologist worked on during his long career. Krajewski’s awards include the Large-Calibre Award (2003) Polityka’s Passport (2005).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Śmierć w Breslau, Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie, Wrocław 1999; W.A.B., Warszawa 2006.
• Koniec świata w Breslau, W.A.B., Warszawa 2003.
• Widma w mieście Breslau, W.A.B., Warszawa 2005.
• Festung Breslau, W.A.B., Warszawa 2006.
• Dżuma w Breslau, W.A.B., Warszawa 2007.
• Aleja samobójców (collaboration with Mariusz Czubaj), Warszawa: W.A.B., 2008.
• Róże cmentarne (collaboration with Mariusz Czubaj), Warszawa: W.A.B., 2009.
• Głowa Minotaura, Warszawa: W.A.B., 2009.
• Erynie, Kraków: Znak, 2010.
• Liczby Charona, Kraków: Znak, 2011.
• Rzeki Hadesu, Kraków: Znak, 2012.
• W otchłani mroku, Kraków: Znak, 2013.
• Władca liczb, Kraków: Znak, 2014.
• Arena szczurów, Kraków: Znak, 2015
• Mock, Kraków: Znak, 2016.
• Mock: Ludzkie zoo, Kraków: Znak, 2017
• Mock: pojedynek, Kraków: Znak, 2018
• Mock: Golem, Kraków: Znak, 2019
• Mock. Moloch, Kraków: Znak, 2020
• Diabeł stróż, Kraków: Znak, 2021
• Błaganie o śmierć, Kraków: Znak, 2022
• Dziewczyna o czterech palcach, Kraków: Znak, 2019
• Pomocnik kata, Kraków: Znak, 2020
• Miasto szpiegów, Kraków: Znak, 2021,
• Czas zdrajców, Kraków: Znak, 2022
• Demonomachia, Kraków: Znak, 2022
• Pasożyt, Kraków: Znak, 2023
• Ostra, Kraków: Znak, 2023
• Słowo honoru, Kraków: Znak, 2024
• Ostatni pisarz, Kraków: Znak, 2024

TRANSLATIONS TO OTHER LANGUAGES

English:

• Death in Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Danuta Stok, MacLehose Press/Quercus 2008; Nowy Jork: Melville House, 2012.
• Phantoms of Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Danusia Stok, London: Quercus, 2011.
• The End of the World in Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], transl. Danusia Stok, Melville International Crime, 2013.
• The Minotaur's Head [Głowa Minotaura], transl. Danusia Stok, Melville International Crime, 2014.

Bulgarian:

• Smrt w Brieslau [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Plamiena Bażenowa, Sofja: Bgkniga, 2013.

Croatian:

• Kraj svijeta u Breslauu [Koniec świata w Breslau], transl. Mladen Martić, Fraktura 2010.
• Sablasti u Breslauu [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Mladen Martić, Fraktura, 2011.

Czech:

• Smrt v Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Michał Przybylski, MOBA, 2008.
• Erínye, transl. Stanislav Komárek, Praha: Argo, 2019.
• Charónova čísla [Liczby Charona], transl. Stanislav Komárek, Praha: Argo, 2020.

Danish:

• Døden i Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Hanne Lone Tønnesen, Kopenhaga: Tiderne Skifter, 2009.
• Spøgelser i Breslau [Widma w Breslau], transl. Hanne Lone Tønnesen, København: Tiderne Skifter 2014.

French:

• Les fantômes de Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Margot Carlier, Paris: Éditions Gallimard 2008.
• La peste à Breslau [Dżuma w mieście Breslau], transl. Margot Carlier, Maryla Laurent, Gallimard, 2009.

Greek:

• TO ΣΗMAΔI TOY ΣKOPΠIOY [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Irena Szelągiweicz, Ateny: Metaixmio, 2009.

Hebrew:

• Śmierć w Breslau, transl. Boris Gerus, Keter, 2010.

Spanish:

• Fin del mundo en Breslau [Koniec świata w mieście Breslau], transl. Fernando Otero Macías, Madrid: Alamut, 2008.
• Muerte en Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Fernando Otero Macías, Madrid: Alamut, 2008.
• Peste en Breslau [Dżuma w Breslau], transl. Jerzy Sławomirski i Ana Rubió Rodón, RBA Libros, 2011.

Lithuanian:

• Pasaulio pabaigo Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], transl. Vidas, Alma Litera 2006.

Macedonian:

• Smrt wo Brieslał [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Filip Dimiewski, Skopje: Behemot, 2013.

Dutch:

• Spoken in Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Karol Lesman, Amsterdam: Van Gennep 2007.
• Kalendermoorden in Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], transl. Rita Depestel, Greet Pauwelijn, Amsterdam: Van Gennep, 2008.
• De kalender-moordenaar [Koniec świata w Breslau], transl. Rita Depestel, Greet Pauwelijn, Amsterdam: Van Gennep, 2009.

German:

• Tod in Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Doreen Daume, btb Verlag, 2002.
• Der Kalenderblattmörder [Koniec świata w Breslau], transl. Paulina Schulz, DTV 2006.
• Gespenster in Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Paulina Schulz, DTV 2007
• Festung Breslau, transl. Paulina Schulz, DTV 2008.
• Pest in Breslau [Dżuma w Breslau], transl. Paulina Schulz, DTV 2009.
• Finsternis in Breslau: Kriminalroman, [Głowa Minotaura] transl. Paulina Schulz, e kMünchen : Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 2012.

Norwegian:

• Gjenferdene i Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Anne Walseng, Bergen: Vigmonstad & Bjørke, 2009.
• Pesten i Breslau [Dżuma w Breslau] transl. Anne Walseng, Bergen: Vigmostad Bjørke 2010.
• Verdens ende i Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau] transl. Anne Walseng, Bergen: Vigmostad Bjørke 2011.

Russian:

• Рризраки Бреслау [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Sergiej Sokołow, Phantom Press 2007.
• Gołowa Minotaura [Głowa Minotaura], transl. Sergiej Podrażanskij, Moskwa: Mosty Kultury Geszarim, 2012.

Slovak:

• Smrť v Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Tomáš Horváth, SLOVART, 2007.
• Koniec sweta v Breslau [Koniec świata w mieście Breslau], transl. Tomáš Horváth, SLOVART, 2008.
• Pevnosť Breslau [Festung Breslau], transl. Tomáš Horváth, SLOVART, 2010.

Swedish:

·    Vålnader i Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Lisa Mendoza Åsberg, Stockholm: Weyler, 2009.

Ukrainian:

• Кінець світу в Бреслау [Koniec świata w Breslau], transl. Bożena Antoniak, Kijów, Fakt, 2007.
• Смерть у Бреслау [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Bożena Antoniak, Kijów, Nora-Druk, 2009.
• Голова Мінотавра [Głowa Minotaura], transl. Bożena Antoniak, Lwów: Piramida, 2009.
• Привиди в місті Бреслау [Widma w mieście Breslau], transl. Bożena Antoniak, Kviv: Urbino 2010.
• Еринії [Erynie], transl. Bożena Antoniak, Kviv: Urbino 2010.
• Čisla Harona: roman [Liczby Charona], transl. Bożena Antoniak, Urbìno, L'vìv, 2011.

Hungarian:

• Halál Breslauban [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Hermann Péter, Budapest: Magvetö 2010.

Italian:

• Morte a Breslavia [Śmierć w Breslau], transl. Valentina Parisi, Einaudi 2007.
• La fine del mondo a Breslavia [Koniec świata w Breslau], transl. Valentina Parisi, Einaudi 2008.
• Fortezza Breslavia [Festung Breslau] transl. Valentina Parisi, Einaudi 2014.