English Section

Plays by 19th-century Polish dramatist Norwid published in UK

03.02.2022 19:00
A selection of plays by Polish Romantic poet and dramatist Cyprian Kamil Norwid has been published in English in Britain and the Netherlands, the government-affiliated Polish Book Institute has said.
A selection of plays by Polands 19th-century Romantic poet C. K. Norwid has been published in English in Britain and the Netherlands.
A selection of plays by Poland’s 19th-century Romantic poet C. K. Norwid has been published in English in Britain and the Netherlands.Image: Polona

Entitled Dramatic Works, the volume has been released by Glagoslav Publications, a British-Dutch publisher.

The Polish Book Institute said it helped fund the English translations of the plays, by Charles S. Kraszewski.

The 672-page book is available in both hardback and paperback, for EUR 36 and EUR 32 respectively, according to the institute.

Seven plays are included in the selection: The Ring of the Grande Dame, or Durejko Ex Machina; Krakus, The Unknown Prince; Pure Love at the Sea Baths; Wanda; Cleopatra and Caesar; Zwolon; and In the Wings.

2021 was the Year of Norwid in Poland, with officials holding a number of nationwide contests, including for best book about the national bard, best artistic illustration for a Norwid poem, and best Norwid-themed T-shirt.

Paying tribute to the poet and playwright, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at the time that Norwid "demanded much from himself and he demanded much from others, and so he is, and can be, a wonderful guide for us, a unique beacon, the bard who connects us.”

Born on September 24, 1821, Norwid spent most of his life abroad, mainly in Paris, where he died on May 23, 1883.

Charles S. Kraszewski has previously translated works by several other Polish Romantic poets, including Adam Mickiewicz’s Forefathers’ Eve (2016).

All these translations were co-funded by the Polish Book Institute and published by Glagoslav Publications, Poland's PAP news agency reported.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, instytutksiazki.pl