Polish writer Mariusz Szczygieł, one of Central Europe’s most acclaimed literary reporters, will tour the UK later this month with a series of public events marking the English-language release of
his essay collection ‘Not There’.
The tour begins on February 24 at the University of Cambridge, where Szczygieł will appear alongside his longtime translator Antonia Lloyd-Jones. The event will be hosted by Polish studies scholar Stanley Bill and will explore the themes and background of the book.
On February 25, Szczygieł and Lloyd-Jones will travel to London for a conversation with Robin Ashenden, founder of the ‘Central and Eastern European London Review’, at Waterstones Islington.
Further appearances are scheduled for February 26 at the Polish Hearth in London, followed by a closing event on February 27 at St. Anne’s College.
In her translator’s note, Lloyd-Jones describes ‘Not There’ as a collection rooted in everyday lives and intimate encounters, inviting readers to reflect on memory, loss and the fragile, subjective nature of truth. The essays range widely, featuring meetings with figures such as a Czech poet, a Ukrainian soldier, a Polish accountant, an Albanian painter and an Israeli writer.
The book’s publisher, Linden Editions, characterises the collection as being guided by memory and conversation, using empathy and wit to explore the human condition.
Szczygieł is widely known for his works of literary reportage focused on Poland and the Czech Republic. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages and have received numerous international honours, including Poland’s prestigious Nike Literary Award, which he won in 2019 for ‘Not There’.
Lloyd-Jones is one of the most respected translators of Polish literature into English. Her body of work includes translations of Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk, as well as writers such as Paweł Huelle, Jacek Dehnel, Zygmunt Miłoszewski and Janusz Korczak. Photo by Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), Wikimedia commons.