In a press release, the Zbigniew Herbert Foundation writes that “Carson’s works, described by critics as masterpieces, are both innovative and rooted in tradition. Like Herbert, she uses the dialogue with the past as her creative fabric in poetry that is marked by both simplicity and great erudition.”
Four of Carson’s volumes of poetry - Eros the Bittersweet, The Beauty of the Husband, Decreation and Autobiography of Red, have been published in Poland, in translations by Renata Lis, Olga Kubińska, Maciej Topolski and Natalia de Barbaro.
The laureate of the Herbert Award was chosen by a jury comprising poets, essayists, translators and publishers: Krystyna Dąbrowska (Poland), Edward Hirsch (USA), Michael Krüger (Germany), Mercedes Monmany (Spain), and Aleš Šteger (Slovenia).
The award presentation ceremony is to be held in Warsaw on June 11.
Conferred since 2013, the Zbigniew Herbert International Literary Award recognizes outstanding artistic and intellectual achievements inspired by the values and ideals which were championed by Herbert.
Past recipients of the award include W.S. Merwin, Charles Simic, Ryszard Krynicki, Lars Gustafsson, Breyten Breytenbach, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Agi Miszol, Durs Grünbein, Yusef Komunyakaa, Marianna Kijanowska and Tomas Venclova.
Born in 1924, Herbert was among the most influential Polish poets, essayists and moralists. His most popular works include Pan Cogito (Mr. Cogito), Struna światła (The Chord of Light), Hermes, pies i gwiazda (Hermes, Dog and Star), and Barbarzyńca w ogrodzie (The Barbarian in the Garden).
An anti-communist, Herbert gave his wholehearted support to the Solidarity movement. After the imposition of martial law in December 1981, his poems were recited at clandestine Solidarity meetings. His works have been translated into 40 languages. He died in 1998.
Source: PAP/dzieje.pl/X/@PL1918/@Najwazniejsze
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