Every two months The Polka Podcast will bring you topical news, views and interviews about Polish books in English, to celebrate this new golden age of Polish literature in translation. We’ll discuss the best of Polish writing in English: the prose, poetry, non-fiction, reportage, children’s literature and graphic novels – all those Polish books you need to know, as well as those we recommend for translation into English.
You can find more information on our websites under the heading The Polka Podcast, that is at eurolitnetwork.com and instytutpolski.pl.
The Polka Podcast is produced by the European Literature Network in collaboration with the Polish Cultural Institute in London. It’s hosted by Rosie Goldsmith and Anna Blasiak and is available for free on all your favourite podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube).
Make a date and tune into The Polka Podcast!
EPISODE 1. POLISH LITERATURE ON THE SCREEN
The conversation delves into the 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 (The Wedding, Maids of Wilko, The Promised Land, among others), 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 most important Polish publishing houses. This conversation focuses on the state of publishing in Poland, the process of adapting books to the screen and places Polish book adaptations in a wider, European context.
Thank you to our guests, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Michał Oleszczyk and Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska.
Thank you also to Kacper Kulesza for the logo and to Cristian-Emanuel Opriș for the music.
Stream it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
EPISODE 3: POLISH POETRY WITH PIOTR FLORCZYK AND FOCUS ON THE EUROPEAN POETRY FESTIVAL
Anna talks all things Polish poetry with our guest, Piotr Florczyk, 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, Joanna Bociąg, Maciej Robert, Krzysztof Siwczyk, Antonina Tosiek.
Piotr Florczyk reads two poems by Joanna Bociąg and two poems by Maciej Robert.
In the second part of this episode Rosie and Anna talk 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
Anna Błasiak reads an excerpt from Psalm to Saint Sabina by Radosław Wiśniewski (sidewayspress.com), followed up by two readings from the European Poetry Festival: Agata Masłowska’s and Agnieszka Studzińska’s as well as Maria Jastrzębska’s and Jules Sprake’s.
eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast
Thank you to our guest, Piotr Florczyk!
EPISODE 4: POLISH CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Polish children’s publishing is growing and has a strong focus on striking artistic illustrations, detailed non-fiction, and sensitive real-world topics.
Children’s publishing in Poland is expanding. The National Library of Poland received 3132 children’s titles in 2025, compared with 2829 in 2024. Comics increased by 90 titles to 1579. Practical guides were another growing category, reaching 2191 titles — 278 more than in 2024.
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.
2. Scotia Gilroy, a literary translator, including of children’s books.
3. Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp, director of World Kid Lit.
eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast
Thank you to our guests, Karolina Jaszecka, Scotia Gilroy and Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp.
