The Polka Podcast. On Polish Books. In English.

European Literature Network
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture

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.

Episodes

  1. Sep 16

    Episode 4: Polish Children's Books

    Books and authors mentioned in this episode: Classics: Julian Tuwim, The Locomotive (illustrated by Jan Le Witt and George Him, translated by Bernard Gutteridge and William J. Peace; Thames and Hudson, 2017; and many other versions)Jan Brzechwa, Professor Inkblot's Academy (translated by Marek Kazmierski, Give the World, 2020)Janusz Korczak, King Matt the First (translated by Richard Lourie, Algonquin Books, 2004)Janusz Korczak, Kaytek the Wizard (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Penlight Publications, 2015)Maria Konopnicka, O krasnoludkach i o sierotce Marysi (The Orphan Mary and the Dwarves) Newer: Hanna Ożogowska, Krystyna Ślesicka, Małgorzata Musierowicz, Czesław Janczarski (Miś Uszatek - Teddy Floppy Ear), Tadeusz Baranowski (Podróż Smokiem Diplodokiem - Diplodocus Dragon Travels), Krystyna Boglar, Clementine Loves Red (illustrated by Bohdan Butenko, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Zosia Krasodomska-Jones; Pushkin Children's, 2017) Latest: Piotr Socha, The Book of Bees (translated by Agnes Monod-Gayraud; Thames and Hudson, 2016)Piotr Socha, The Book of Dirt (translated by Zosia Krasodomska-Jones; Thames and Hudson, 2022)Aleksandra and Daniel Mizieliński, Maps (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Big Picture Press, 2013)Olga Tokarczuk, The Lost Soul (illustrated by Joanna Concejo, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Seven Stories Press, 2021)Dorota Gellner (author)Marcin Minor (illustrator)Justyna Bednarek, Niesamowite przygody dziesięciu skarpetek (The Amazing Adventures of Ten Socks; Poradnia K, 2025)Gosia Herba and Mikołaj Pasiński, No. 5 Bubblegum Street (translated by Scotia Gilroy; Greystone Books 2024)Gosia Herba and Mikołaj Pasiński, No One Is Home (translated by Scotia Gilroy; Greystone Books, 2025)Gosia Herba and Mikołaj Pasiński, The Underground Adventure of the Brave Frog Rene (translated by Scotia Gilroy; Greystone Books, 2026)Tina Oziewicz, What Feelings Do When No One's Looking (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Pushkin Press, 2022)Tina Oziewicz, What Feelings Like Best (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Pushkin Press, 2024)Tina Oziewicz, What Feelings Do at Night (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Pushkin Press, 2025)Paweł Pawlak, Oscar Seeks a Friend (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Lantana Publishing, 2019) Polish publishers mentioned: Nasza Księgarnia British publishers mentioned: Emma Press, Lantana, Book Island, Pushkin Press, Nosy Crow, Usborne, Scholastic, Chicken House Guests: 1. Karolina Jaszecka, an expert  in Polish children's books KaBooks: https://ka-books.com/ 2. Scotia Gilroy, a literary translator, including of children's books. 3. Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp, director of World Kid Lit World Kid Lit: https://worldkidlit.org/what-is-world-kid-lit-month/ eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast instytutpolski.pl Thank you to our guests, Karolina Jaszecka, Scotia Gilroy and Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp.

  2. Jul 17

    Episode 3: Polish poetry with Piotr Florczyk and focus on the European Poetry Festival

    Part 1: Polish poetry now. Our guest, Piotr Florczyk, is an award-winning poets, scholar, essayist and translator. Among his two dozen publications are Dialogue and Influence: Essays on Polish and American Poets and Swimming Pool, a poetry collection. He translates Polish poetry into English. More at piotrflorczyk.com Poets mentioned: Czesław Miłosz Wisława Szymborska Zbigniew Herbert Adam Zagajewski Tadeusz Dąbrowski Anna Świrszczyńska AKA Anna Swir Julian Kornhauser Justyna Kulikowska Joanna Bociąg Maciej Robert Krzysztof Siwczyk Antonina Tosiek Readings: Piotr Florczyk reads two poems by Joanna Bociąg Piotr Florczyk reads two poems by Maciej Robert Part 2: More on Polish poetry and the European Poetry Festival European Poetry Festival Polish evening participants: Weronika Lewandowska dna Misha Foster Poole, Agata Masłowska and Agnieszka Studzińska, Maria Jastrzębska and Jules Sprake, Anna Błasiak and Susie Campbell, Tomasz Mielcarek and Michael Back, Nasim Łuczaj and Hannah Klip, Landa Wo and James Byrne and Magda Drozd and Steven J. Fowler. Other poets mentioned: Radosław Wiśniewski Readings: Anna Błasiak reads an excerpt from Psalm to Saint Sabina by Radosław Wiśniewski (sidewayspress.com) Readings from the European Poetry Festival: Agata Masłowska and Agnieszka Studzińska Maria Jastrzębska and Jules Sprake eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast instytutpolski.pl Thank you to our guest, Piotr Florczyk.

  3. May 10

    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.

  4. Mar 9

    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 bookMan of MarbleThe Ashes, based on Stefan Żeromski's bookPan Tadeusz, based on Adam Mickiewicz's long poemThe Wedding, based on Stanisław Wyspiański's play in verseMaids of Wilko, based on Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz's novellaRough TreatmentThe Promised Land, based on Władysław Reymont's novelThe Orchestra Conductor Other notable Polish directors: Agnieszka HollandAndrzej ŻuławskiPiotr SzulkinWitold LeszczyńskiAleksander FordWalerian BorowczykKrzysztof KieślowskiRoman PolańskiJerzy Skolimowski New directors to watch out for: Paweł PawlikowskiJan MatuszyńskiJan KomasaAgnieszka SmoczyńskaAleksandra Terpińska Part 3: Interview with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska Writers mentioned: Małgorzata SzejnertWojciech JagielskiWiesław Myśliwski ("The Needle's Eye")Małgorzata Lebda ("Voracious") and forthcoming adaptation by Jagoda SzelcWładysław Reymont's "The Peasants" and its adaptationAdam Mirek's "The Guts" and its forthcoming adaptationHeweliusz365 daysForgotten Love eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast instytutpolski.pl Thank you to our guests, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Michał Oleszczyk and Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska.

  • 4 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    European Literature Network
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 European Literature Network

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