Polish Authors in Edinburgh

The Institute of Polish Culture announces meetings with Olga Tokarczuk, Michał Witkowski, Matthew Kelly and Michał and Joanna Rusinek, which will take place during the Edinburgh International Book Festival (August 14th-30th 2010).

The Edinburgh International Book Festival hosts the most recognized and renowned writers, poets, thinkers, photographers and artists from all over the world to debate, discuss and search for inspiration. The festival normally draws around 200,000 guests. The Institute of Polish Culture is holding a discussion on Polish books and books on Poland.

Following a series of meetings organized by the institute in May and in June of this year (the Guardian Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye, London Review Bookshop and Waterstone’s in Glasgow), Olga Tokarczuk will meet her readers once more at the largest literary festival on the British Isles. She will be speaking about her books translated into English: “Primeval and Other Times” and “House of Day, House of Night.”
Previous meetings drew around 400 people. We can only hope that the Edinburgh meeting, which will take place on August 18th at 6:00 p.m. at the Writers’ Retreat in Charlotte Square Gardens in Edinburgh, will enjoy equal popularity.

Michał Witkowski will also be traveling to Edinburgh, his much-acclaimed novel “Lovetown” having been published in English this year. Michał Witkowski will be meeting with his readers on August 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the Writers’ Retreat. On August 20th, on the other hand, he will be taking part in a meeting to promote a collection of the finest European prose of 2010, entitled “Best European Fiction 2010,” which includes his short story “Didi.” Apart from Witkowski, the meeting at the Scottish Power Studio Theatre at 2:00 p.m. will feature two other authors featured in the volume, Alasdair Gray and Igor Štiks. It will be hosted by Stuart Kelly.

Others invited to Edinburgh by the Institute of Polish Culture are the authors of the book “Little Chopin,” Michał and Joanna Rusinek, who will be running workshops for children ages 4 to 7. These will take place on August 18th at 10:30 a.m. at the RBS Workshop Tent in Charlotte Square Gardens.

The Edinburgh Literary Festival will be hosting one more Poland-related meeting. On August 21st at the Peppers Theatre at 12:30 p.m. there will be a meeting with Matthew Kelly, author of “Finding Poland.” In this book, Matthew Kelly tracks the history of his family, who came from Poland. This is part diary, part history, and in part a travel book. It is also a profound meditation on the experience of resettlement and exile, and what a shattering experience these can be.

Tickets are available at www.edbookfest.co.uk.