14 March
10:00 – 11:00
National Hall Gallery, Club Room
Olympia London
New Poetic Universes
In his introduction to Arc’s 2009 anthology Six Polish Poets, Jacek Dehnel wrote that Poland’s new voices could be split into two camps: those working in traditional forms, but in new ways and modern language, and those whose work was language-focused, inspired by the avant-garde. Does Dehnel still agree with this, and if not, what has changed in the eight years since? He joins the ‘Polish Sappho’, poet Marzanna Kielar and British-Pakistani poet Moniza Alvi to discuss the state of Polish poetry today.
Speakers: Jacek Dehnel, Marzanna Kielar, Moniza Alvi
Chair: Sarah Hesketh
11:30 – 12:30
National Hall Gallery, Club Room
Olympia London
Am I a Crime Writer?: Crime Writing from Poland
Following in the footsteps of Scandi Crime and Nordic Noir, Polish crime is now garnering international attention. Zygmunt Miłoszewski, widely considered to be Poland’s ‘King of Crime’, discusses his acclaimed home-grown psychological thriller series, combining the realism of everyday life in Poland with wider aspects of the country’s history. Olga Tokarczuk’s Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead has recently been made into a film directed by Agnieszka Holland. However, neither Tokarczuk and Miloszewski consider themselves solely a crime writer. Join us to discuss the uses and challenges of genre.
Speakers: Zygmunt Miloszewski, Olga Tokarczuk, Amanda Jennings,
Chair: Karen Sullivan
13:00 – 14:00
National Hall Gallery, Club Room
Olympia London
Do Pictures Travel – is there a European aesthetic?
This joint seminar with IBBY UK, the British Council and IBBY Poland, this year's Market Focus, will consider the role of pictures in books in translation. In some cases, illustration is the driving factor in a book's international success, whilst in others pictures don't seem to ‘travel’ to new climes. This seminar will explore picture book aesthetic and whether or not pictures can cross borders to find homes in new countries.
The panel includes Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski, illustrator of the widely-successful Maps (published by Dwie Siostry in Poland and Big Picture Press). Jadwiga Jędryas (Dwie Siostry) and Lisa Edwards (Templar and Big Picture Press) will discuss the success of this book and the different considerations both UK and Polish publishers think of when buying or selling rights abroad. Polish illustrator Marta Ignerska will also join UK illustrator Sara Fanelli in a discussion about their work and the idea of picture book aesthetic in relation to their countries. Ignerska is a twice winner of Bologna Ragazzi Awards and is known for the creative verve she brings to illustrating and designing her books. Fanelli is an Italian-born British illustrator, whose work has received international recognition including the National Art Library Illustration Award for Pinocchio. The event will be chaired by Duncan Partridge of the English Speaking Union.
In partnership with IBBY
Speakers: Mizielinskis, Marta Ignerska, Sara Fanelli, Lisa Edwards, Jadwiga Jędryas
Chair: Duncan Partridge
16:00-16:30
English PEN Literary Salon
Olympia London
Zygmunt Miłoszewski in conversation with Antonia Lloyd Jones
Zygmunt Miłoszewski is a Polish crime fiction writer, a master of the art who delights in playing complex games with the reader. He is here in conversation with leading Polish translator Antonia Lloyd Jones.
The English PEN literary salon showcases leading UK writers alongside acclaimed international authors from the Market Focus.
15 March
10:00-11:00
National Hall Gallery, Club Room
Olympia London
Intellectuals in the Media
Start your morning with an intellectual stimulant at this challenging and wide ranging discussion. Polish historian Andrzej Nowak writes on Eastern European history and politics and modern mass media, whilst philosopher and publisher Dariusz Karłowicz edits the Polish philosophical magazine Teologia Polityczna. Together they will discuss the unique position of intellectuals in the media, with creative director of Calvert-22 Ekow Eshun
Speakers: Dariusz Karłowicz, Andrzej Nowak, Ekow Eshun
Chair: Doug Wallace
10:00-10:30
English PEN Literary Salon
Artur Domosławski in conversation with Hugh Thomson
Artur Domosławski is a renowned jouranlist and reporter whose expertise is the socio-politics of Latin America. He is here in conversation with Hugh Thomson, the writer, explorer and filmmaker of Latin America. The English PEN literary salon showcases leading UK writers alongside acclaimed international authors from the Market Focus.
11:30 - 12:30
National Hall Gallery, Club Room
Olympia London
An equal share: women’s writing from Poland
Join these fantastic Polish women writers to debate and discuss how writing from a female perspective provides a unique understanding of a country’s culture. Olga Tokarczuk, several times nominated for the Nike prize for fiction and poetry, and Ewa Winnicka, whose writing brings us reports from immigrants all over the world, offer their thoughts on representation in the publishing world. They are joined by Joanna Walsh, novelist and founder of #ReadWomen.
Speakers: Olga Tokarczuk, Ewa Winnicka, Joanna Walsh
Chair: Catherine Taylor
13:00 – 14:00
National Hall Gallery, Club Room
Olympia London
What place for reportage in a post-truth world?
Literary reportage is often thought of as Poland’s national speciality, made famous by Ryszard Kapuściński whose writing combined dramatic tension with harrowing reports of some of the most dangerous conflicts of the 20th century. Artur Domosławski, author of Kapuściński: A Life among many other books of literary reportage will be in conversation with Ewa Winnicka, author of Brits. Brits is an as yet untranslated work of reportage offering a Polish perspective on the UK. Together they will question the uncertain borders of non-fiction writing, with Polish-Nigerian journalist Remi Adekoya and Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography.
Speakers: Artur Domosławski, Ewa Winnicka, Tim Marshall, Remi Adekoya
14:30-15:00
English PEN Literary Salon
Olympia London
Olga Tokarczuk in conversation with Rosie Goldsmith
16:00-16:30
English PEN Literary Salon
Olympia London
Ewa Winnicka in conversation with Ellie Mae O'Hagan
Ewa Winnicka is a Polish reportage writer whose main subject is immigration and the fate of immigrants, and she takes a special interest in the UK's Polish population. She will be in conversation with Ellie Mae O'Hagan, a freelance journalist whose work appears in the Guardian, the New York Times and the New Statesman, and an editor at Open Democracy. The English PEN literary salon showcases leading UK writers alongside acclaimed international authors from the Market Focus.
16 March
10:00-10:30
English PEN Literary Salon
Marzanna Kielar in conversation Sasha Dugdale
Marzanna Kielar has been called the 'Polish Sappho', a poet and philosopher whose erotic lyrics and suggestive metaphors mark her out as a distinctive poetic voice, here in conversation with Sasha Dugdale.
The English PEN literary salon showcases leading UK writers alongside acclaimed international authors from the Market Focus.
13:00-13:30
English PEN Literary Salon
Jacek Dehnel in conversation with Marta Dzuirosz
Jacek Dehnel is a Polish novelist, poet and crime fiction author whose novel Lala is shortly to be published by Oneworld, here in conversation with Polish translator and Free Word Centre associate Marta Dzuirosz. The English PEN literary salon showcases leading UK writers alongside acclaimed international authors from
the Market Focus.
14:30 – 15:30
National Hall Gallery, Club Room
Olympia London
Writing history as fiction in 21st century Poland
In Poland a new generation of writers is eagerly using history in their work in innovative new ways. One of the most acclaimed Polish writers of her generation, Olga Tokarczuk, has won multiple prizes, most recently for her novel The Books of Jacob, which explores an important moment in 18th Century Polish history. Fellow Polish writer Jacek Dukaj creates imaginary futures from a lost past, whilst Jacek Dehnel’s novel Saturn looks at the history of the Goya family. Here they discuss the new wave of Polish historical fiction.
Speakers: Jacek Dehnel, Jacek Dukaj, Olga Tokarczuk, Hisham Matar
Chair: Rosie Goldsmith
