<![CDATA[The Polka Podcast. On Polish Books. In English.]]>Every two months we’ll be bringing you topical news, views and interviews about Polish books in English, and sharing our excitement over this new golden age of Polish literature in translation. 

The Polka Podcast is produced by the European Literature Network in collaboration with the Polish Cultural Institute in London. It is hosted by Rosie Goldsmith and Anna Blasiak.
It’s available for free on all your favourite podcast platforms.

Websites: eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast and instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to Kacper Kulesza for the logo and to Cristian-Emanuel Opriș for the music.

]]>eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcastRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sat, 30 May 2026 00:20:01 GMTTue, 17 Feb 2026 20:38:25 GMT60European Literature Network<p>Every two months we’ll be bringing you topical news, views and interviews about Polish books in English, and sharing our excitement over this new golden age of Polish literature in translation. </p><p>The Polka Podcast is produced by the European Literature Network in collaboration with the Polish Cultural Institute in London. It is hosted by Rosie Goldsmith and Anna Blasiak.<br />It’s available for free on all your favourite podcast platforms.</p><p>Websites: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast" target="_blank">eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instytutpolski.pl" target="_blank">instytutpolski.pl</a></p><p>Thank you to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://kacperkulesza.com" target="_blank">Kacper Kulesza</a> for the logo and to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/cristianemanuelopris" target="_blank">Cristian-Emanuel Opriș</a> for the music.</p><p></p>episodicEuropean Literature Networkanka.blasiak@googlemail.comno<![CDATA[Episode 2: Polish writers at UK literature festivals and focus on Małgorzata Lebda]]>Part 1: Main literature festivals in the UK which feature Polish writers: European Writers' Festival, Hay Festival, International Literature Festival in Dublin, London Literature Festival, Chelthenham Literature Festival and European Poetry Festival.

Polish-British writers mentioned: Wioletta Greg, Maria Jastrzębska, Tomasz Mielcarek, Agnieszka Dale and Agata Masłowska.

Independent publishers of translated literature mentioned: Linden Editions, Peirine Press, Fitzcarraldo Editions, And Other Stories, Sideways Press.

Polish writers who have appeared at previous editions of European Writers' Festival:

  • Margo Rejmer ("Mud Sweeter than Honey", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2021 Maclehose Press).
  • Witold Szabłowski ("What's Cooking in the Kremlin: A Modern History of Russia Through the Kitchen Door", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2023 Icon Books).

And at European Literature Night:

  • Paweł Huelle ("Who was David Weiser?", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 1991 Bloomsbury),
  • Jacek Dehnel ("Lala", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2018 Oneworld),
  • Zygmunt Miłoszewski ("Entanglement", 2010 Bitter Lemon Press, "A Grain of Truth, 2012 Bitter Lemon Press, "Rage", 2016 Amazon Crossing; all three translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones),
  • Wioletta Greg ("Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance", trans. Marek Kazmierski, 2014 Arc Publications, "Swallowing Mercory", trans. Eliza Marciniak, 2017 Portobello Books),
  • Bożena Keff,
  • Olga Tokarczuk,
  • Jacek Dukaj,
  • Filip Springer,
  • Adam Zagajewski.

Polish writers featured in European Literature Network's The Polish Riveter: Olga Tokarczuk, Wiesław Myśliwski, Filip Springer, Żanna Słoniowska, Julia Fiedorczuk and Justyna Bargielska.

Part 2: Interview with Małgorzata Lebda and Antonia Lloyd-Jones

Małgorzata Lebda is a Polish poet and fiction writer, mountaineer, ultramarathon runner and photographer. She is the author of six poetry collections. Her prose debut "Voracious" (2025) has been widely nominated for prizes, including this year’s Dublin Literary Award.

Antonia Lloyd-Jones has translated works by many of Poland’s leading contemporary novelists and reportage authors, as well as classics, biographies, essays, crime fiction, poetry and children’s books.

Małgorzata Lebda's books in English:

"Queen Cells", trans. Elżbieta Wójcik-Leese, 2024 Broken Sleep Books

"Voracious", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2025 Linden Editions

"Mer de Glace" trans. Mira Rosenthal, 2026 Fitzcarraldo Editions

Readings from "Voracious" in Polish and English – 32:40

Readings from "Mer de Glace" in Polish and English – 42:00

Małgorzata Lebda UK tour:

14 May, St Anne's College, Oxford, 5pm

15 May, The Polish Hearth in London, 7.30pm

16 May, European Writers' Festival, 12.45am

eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast

instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to our guests, Małgorzata Lebda and Antonia Lloyd-Jones.

]]>68f2e74e-5b73-4e0e-9fa0-cf66afdf0c35Sun, 10 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT<p>Part 1: Main literature festivals in the UK which feature Polish writers: European Writers' Festival, Hay Festival, International Literature Festival in Dublin, London Literature Festival, Chelthenham Literature Festival and European Poetry Festival.</p><p></p><p>Polish-British writers mentioned: Wioletta Greg, Maria Jastrzębska, Tomasz Mielcarek, Agnieszka Dale and Agata Masłowska.</p><p></p><p>Independent publishers of translated literature mentioned: Linden Editions, Peirine Press, Fitzcarraldo Editions, And Other Stories, Sideways Press.</p><p></p><p>Polish writers who have appeared at previous editions of European Writers' Festival:</p><ul><li>Margo Rejmer ("Mud Sweeter than Honey", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2021 Maclehose Press).</li><li>Witold Szabłowski ("What's Cooking in the Kremlin: A Modern History of Russia Through the Kitchen Door", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2023 Icon Books).</li></ul><p>And at European Literature Night:</p><ul><li>Paweł Huelle ("Who was David Weiser?", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 1991 Bloomsbury),</li><li>Jacek Dehnel ("Lala", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2018 Oneworld),</li><li>Zygmunt Miłoszewski ("Entanglement", 2010 Bitter Lemon Press, "A Grain of Truth, 2012 Bitter Lemon Press, "Rage", 2016 Amazon Crossing; all three translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones),</li><li>Wioletta Greg ("Finite Formulae &amp; Theories of Chance", trans. Marek Kazmierski, 2014 Arc Publications, "Swallowing Mercory", trans. Eliza Marciniak, 2017 Portobello Books),</li><li>Bożena Keff,</li><li>Olga Tokarczuk,</li><li>Jacek Dukaj,</li><li>Filip Springer,</li><li>Adam Zagajewski.<p></p></li></ul><p>Polish writers featured in European Literature Network's The Polish Riveter: Olga Tokarczuk, Wiesław Myśliwski, Filip Springer, Żanna Słoniowska, Julia Fiedorczuk and Justyna Bargielska.</p><p></p><p>Part 2: Interview with Małgorzata Lebda and Antonia Lloyd-Jones</p><p></p><p>Małgorzata Lebda is a Polish poet and fiction writer, mountaineer, ultramarathon runner and photographer. She is the author of six poetry collections. Her prose debut "Voracious" (2025) has been widely nominated for prizes, including this year’s Dublin Literary Award.</p><p></p><p>Antonia Lloyd-Jones has translated works by many of Poland’s leading contemporary novelists and reportage authors, as well as classics, biographies, essays, crime fiction, poetry and children’s books.</p><p></p><p>Małgorzata Lebda's books in English:</p><p>"Queen Cells", trans. Elżbieta Wójcik-Leese, 2024 Broken Sleep Books</p><p>"Voracious", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2025 Linden Editions</p><p>"Mer de Glace" trans. Mira Rosenthal, 2026 Fitzcarraldo Editions</p><p></p><p>Readings from "Voracious" in Polish and English – 32:40</p><p>Readings from "Mer de Glace" in Polish and English – 42:00</p><p></p><p>Małgorzata Lebda UK tour:</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/magorzata-lebda-with-antonia-lloyd-jones-and-mira-rosenthal-tickets-1988050545699" target="_blank">14 May, St Anne's College, Oxford, 5pm</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/product/15-may-an-illustrated-conversation-with-ma-gorzata-lebda/N3EGQ5NCAFR4JTK556QZOCTG?cp=true&amp;sa=false&amp;sbp=false&amp;q=false&amp;category_id=2" target="_blank">15 May, The Polish Hearth in London, 7.30pm</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://events.bl.uk/events/european-writers-festival" target="_blank">16 May, European Writers' Festival, 12.45am</a></p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast" target="_blank">eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instytutpolski.pl" target="_blank">instytutpolski.pl</a></p><p></p><p>Thank you to our guests, Małgorzata Lebda and Antonia Lloyd-Jones.</p>no00:51:112Episode 2: Polish writers at UK literature festivals and focus on Małgorzata Lebdafull<![CDATA[Episode 1: Polish literature on the screen]]>An exploration of Polish literature and film. Part one focuses on screen adaptations of Olga Tokarczuk's books. Part two is a conversation with Polish film critic Michał Oleszczyk on Andrzej Wajda and his book adaptations, his influence on Polish cinema, the flourishing of Polish film under communism and new directors and films worth attention. Part three is a conversation with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska from ZNAK, one of the biggest Polish publishing houses. This conversation focuses on the state of publishing in Poland and the process of adapting books to the screen.

Part 1: Olga Tokarczuk's books in English and film adaptations

  • "Primevial and Other Times", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2010, Twisted Spoon Press
  • "House of Day, House of Night", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2002, Granta; 2003, Northwestern University Press; 2025, Firzcarraldo Editions
  • "Flights", trans. Jennifer Croft, 2018, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
  • "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2019, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
  • "The Books of Jacob", trans. Jennifer Croft, 2022, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
  • "Empusium", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2024, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions

  • Żurek, directed by Ryszard Brylski, 2003, based on Olga Tokarczuk's story from "Gra na wielu bębenkach"
  • Spoor, directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, 2017, based on Olga Tokarczuk's "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead"
  • Winter of the Crow, directed by Kasia Adamik, 2025, based on Olga Tokarczuk's story "Gra na wielu bębenkach"

Also the staging of "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead" at the Barbican Theatre, directed by Simon McBurney, 2022.

Part 2: Interview with Michał Oleszczyk

Andrzej Wajda's films

  • Ashes and Diamonds, based on Jerzy Andrzejewski's book
  • Man of Marble
  • The Ashes, based on Stefan Żeromski's book
  • Pan Tadeusz, based on Adam Mickiewicz's long poem
  • The Wedding, based on Stanisław Wyspiański's play in verse
  • Maids of Wilko, based on Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz's novella
  • Rough Treatment
  • The Promised Land, based on Władysław Reymont's novel
  • The Orchestra Conductor

Other notable Polish directors:

  • Agnieszka Holland
  • Andrzej Żuławski
  • Piotr Szulkin
  • Witold Leszczyński
  • Aleksander Ford
  • Walerian Borowczyk
  • Krzysztof Kieślowski
  • Roman Polański
  • Jerzy Skolimowski

New directors to watch out for:

  • Paweł Pawlikowski
  • Jan Matuszyński
  • Jan Komasa
  • Agnieszka Smoczyńska
  • Aleksandra Terpińska

Part 3: Interview with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska

Writers mentioned:

  • Małgorzata Szejnert
  • Wojciech Jagielski
  • Wiesław Myśliwski ("The Needle's Eye")
  • Małgorzata Lebda ("Voracious") and forthcoming adaptation by Jagoda Szelc
  • Władysław Reymont's "The Peasants" and its adaptation
  • Adam Mirek's "The Guts" and its forthcoming adaptation
  • Heweliusz
  • 365 days
  • Forgotten Love

eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast

instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to our guests, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Michał Oleszczyk and Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska.

]]>3fa00c1f-ee26-4951-ade9-c7feb6f21130Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:35:22 GMT<p>An exploration of Polish literature and film. Part one focuses on screen adaptations of Olga Tokarczuk's books. Part two is a conversation with Polish film critic Michał Oleszczyk on Andrzej Wajda and his book adaptations, his influence on Polish cinema, the flourishing of Polish film under communism and new directors and films worth attention. Part three is a conversation with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska from ZNAK, one of the biggest Polish publishing houses. This conversation focuses on the state of publishing in Poland and the process of adapting books to the screen.</p><p></p><p>Part 1: Olga Tokarczuk's books in English and film adaptations</p><ul><li>"Primevial and Other Times", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2010, Twisted Spoon Press</li><li>"House of Day, House of Night", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2002, Granta; 2003, Northwestern University Press; 2025, Firzcarraldo Editions</li><li>"Flights", trans. Jennifer Croft, 2018, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions</li><li>"Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2019, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions</li><li>"The Books of Jacob", trans. Jennifer Croft, 2022, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions</li><li>"Empusium", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2024, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions<p></p></li><li>Żurek, directed by Ryszard Brylski, 2003, based on Olga Tokarczuk's story from "Gra na wielu bębenkach"</li><li>Spoor, directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, 2017, based on Olga Tokarczuk's "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead"</li><li>Winter of the Crow, directed by Kasia Adamik, 2025, based on Olga Tokarczuk's story "Gra na wielu bębenkach"</li></ul><p></p><p>Also the staging of "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead" at the Barbican Theatre, directed by Simon McBurney, 2022.</p><p></p><p>Part 2: Interview with Michał Oleszczyk</p><p></p><p>Andrzej Wajda's films</p><ul><li>Ashes and Diamonds, based on Jerzy Andrzejewski's book</li><li>Man of Marble</li><li>The Ashes, based on Stefan Żeromski's book</li><li>Pan Tadeusz, based on Adam Mickiewicz's long poem</li><li>The Wedding, based on Stanisław Wyspiański's play in verse</li><li>Maids of Wilko, based on Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz's novella</li><li>Rough Treatment</li><li>The Promised Land, based on Władysław Reymont's novel</li><li>The Orchestra Conductor</li></ul><p></p><p>Other notable Polish directors:</p><ul><li>Agnieszka Holland</li><li>Andrzej Żuławski</li><li>Piotr Szulkin</li><li>Witold Leszczyński</li><li>Aleksander Ford</li><li>Walerian Borowczyk</li><li>Krzysztof Kieślowski</li><li>Roman Polański</li><li>Jerzy Skolimowski</li></ul><p></p><p>New directors to watch out for:</p><ul><li>Paweł Pawlikowski</li><li>Jan Matuszyński</li><li>Jan Komasa</li><li>Agnieszka Smoczyńska</li><li>Aleksandra Terpińska</li></ul><p></p><p>Part 3: Interview with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska</p><p>Writers mentioned:</p><ul><li>Małgorzata Szejnert</li><li>Wojciech Jagielski</li><li>Wiesław Myśliwski ("The Needle's Eye")</li><li>Małgorzata Lebda ("Voracious") and forthcoming adaptation by Jagoda Szelc</li><li>Władysław Reymont's "The Peasants" and its adaptation</li><li>Adam Mirek's "The Guts" and its forthcoming adaptation</li><li>Heweliusz</li><li>365 days</li><li>Forgotten Love</li></ul><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast" target="_blank">eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://instytutpolski.pl" target="_blank">instytutpolski.pl</a></p><p></p><p>Thank you to our guests, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Michał Oleszczyk and Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska.</p>no01:10:241Episode 1: Polish literature on the screenfull