I ve been planning this for last six months since reading Witold Gombrowicz Diaries and deciding that A. I needed to read more Polish literature B. we all need to maybe know a bit more about this hidden gem of European literature and C. There has been some great books from Poland published in the last year or two .
So what is coming up ,well next week I have a give-away for ten books that has been kindly offered by Joanne at Stork press 5 of Madame Mephisto by Am Bakalar ,which was the first book written by a female writer from Poland in English and 5 of their novel Illegal Liaisons by Grazyna Piebanek ,Also Joanne has written me a piece on publishing Polish literature in English .I’ve also a piece from Magda who is the head of Polish Literature at the Polish Cultural Institution . I’m also contacting a number of translators for suggestions of books and Translations they have made from Polish .I hope to have a great list of books for every one to read between now and June .Here is my fist suggestion on I will be reading as well –
Stone Upon Stone by Wieslaw Mysliwski
A badge – I have been working on a badge for Polish literature month but haven’t quite done one I’m happy with so hope to have one in a couple of weeks when I ve work a bit more on it .So every one can have one for post and sidebars in time .
Twitter – I will be using a hashtag for the month and all posts it will be #plm13 ,so if everyone could use it before and during the month it will make finding post much easier .
Cooking – I will during the month be cooking a traditional Polish dish ,I will post a the start of the month A list of ingredients then in the last week be doing a cook along via twitter and posting the results here on the blog .
Film – I will be choosing a film to watch during the month ,I ve not quite decide which but will be doing a post on Polish cinema and the choice of Film for everyone to watch .
Drink – I will also be trying some polish Beers and spirits to do a post on what to drink .
As you see I want June to be a month we all get Polish .Its important I feel as a recent report showed Polish is now the UK’s second Language .But if you ask the average reader to name a Polish writer they may just mention one but not many more so lets all get to know Polish literature better .
Sounds great Stu – look forward to it!
Me too should be great fun
This is a wonderful idea, Stu! I will look forward to following your Polish reading adventures. I don’t think I have read a Polish book. But I love Polish movies, especially the ones directed by Kieślowski. Happy Polish literature month in June! Can’t wait!
I m looking forward to it too have some books ready and getting a few more all the best stu
Good idea, Stu, I’ll try to join in. I have downloaded The Peasants: Autumn, by Poland’s Nobel prize winning author Władysław Reymont and will aim to read that, so I’m ready to go, I will just need a reminder.
Great Lisa be doing number of post between now and then I ve couple read from last year when thought of this and got couple to read as well all the best stu
What a fantastic idea. I have a couple of Polish titles on the shelf so I’ll read them in June. Plus I have some Polish films too. Thanks for the effort.
Loom forward to your reviews all the best stu
I’d like to read another by Andrzej Stasiuk – and maybe a classic too 🙂
I love another by him as well read two and both been great all the best stu
An interesting idea. I seem to have been reading a lot of Polish related books recently – set in Poland, or Britain’s Polish community – so it could be good to read something actually BY a Polish writer.
Yes be nice to know a bit more about polish culture I think all the best stu
I have several Polish novels and plays lined up for this year so I’ll be sure and cover some of them in June. I covered a few Polish works this past year so feel free to poke around for some ideas. Fortunately there is a lot of quality easily available that has been translated into English.
Great to have you onboard for it all the best stu
Hi, Stu!
I’m looking forward to traveling to Poland in June! Adding drink and cuisine is a terrific idea.
In the next few months, I hope to learn more about contemporary Polish literature as well as 20th century lit. Sounds like not only a great escape, but a look into a culture and country whose borders have been shifted many, many times during the 20th century and suffered endless tragedies.
Thanks, Stu!
Judith (Reader in the Wilderness)
Yes did some cooking before for Don Quixote and would Le try it again and my best mate wants to try drinks with me all the best stu
The “one” author that comes to my mind is a big one: Joseph Konrad. Granted the borders have shifted around since then, but that is not his fault.
Count me in, Stu–looking forward to it!
Thanks Richard
Reymont – now that is tempting. But I should probably use this as an excuse to finally read some Gombrowicz, one of my main Modernist Humiliations.
Gombrowicz is amazing you must try him I loved ferdyduke and his diary all the best stu
I’m in!
Thanks Caroline all the best stu
I don’t think I have a Polish book ready for this, Stu! Will await your recommendation posts. (That food pix will make for a good badge, I think. Ha!)
I may use that as struggling to find something all the best stu
This is a great idea! I love the way that you are attempting to include all aspects of Polish culture into this.
I certainly have not read enough Polish literature. If I can fit the time in I will try to participate.
Great if you did Brian all the best stu
Looking forward to it, all best stu
Me too
Will possibly down a Piwo or two with you & maybe read a book also 😀
Definitely Gary all the best stu
Great idea, Stu. I don’t think I have ever read any Polish fiction, though I do have a copy of Rondo by Kazimierz Brandys on my shelves, so I will have to dig it out for a read in June.
If you are looking for Polish film recommendations, I absolutely LOVE Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colours Trilogy (White is my favourite) and his Decalogue series is excellent too.
Rondo is very good and one I feel you will liked Kim not quite sure on film brought one but not sure now with it so may look again all the best stu