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2 September 2010

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Andrzej Sapkowski
languages: Polski  / English 
 

Born in Łódź in 1948, the most popular Polish author of fantasy stories and novels. Educated as an economist and merchant.

Andrzej Sapkowski has repeatedly been awarded all the major Polish prizes for the writing of fantasy tales, and his books have been bestsellers. In 1997, he won the Polityka Passport award, by which that leading Polish weekly designates Polish artists with prospects for success abroad.

Sapkowski earned his popularity with a cycle of stories and novels about the warlock Geralt. Geralt is a mutant, a hired assassin trained from childhood to fight against monsters. Yet this training has not deprived the warlock of an internal code of ethics. At once cynical and noble, Geralt has been compared to Chandlers' Philip Marlowe. The world in which the warlock's adventures take place owes much to Tolkien, but also contains references to Slavic mythology.

Sapkowski is the only Polish writer of fantasy who has succeeded in crossing beyond the boundaries of popular literature to become an object of interest not only to newspaper reviewers, but also to serious critics.
"Sapkowski has a phenomenal gift for narrative, for inventing sensational events, creating a suggestive mood, and building up the suspense. Along with a dazzling, slightly cynical sense of humor..." (Jacek Sieradzki, "Polityka")
"A completely naive reader will absorb the tales about the warlock as regular fables filled with peripetia; a less-naive reader will discern the wit that lightens the serious tone; an even-less-naive reader will revel in the meta-textual jokes that the author uses to undercut the credibility of his own narration." (Małgorzata Szpakowska, "Tworczość")
Selected bibliography:

Collections of stories about the Warlock:
  • "Wiedzmin / The Warlock", Warsaw: Reporter, 1990
  • "Miecz przeznaczenia / Sword of Destiny", Warsaw: SuperNOWA, 1992
  • "Ostatnie zyczenie / Last Wish", 1993
Cycle of novels about the Warlock:
  • "Krew Elfow / Blood of the Elves", Warsaw: SuperNOWA, 1994
  • "Czas Pogardy / Season of Contempt", Warsaw: SuperNOWA, 1995
  • "Chrzest ognia / Baptism by Fire", Warsaw: SuperNOWA, 1996
  • "Wieza jaskolki / The Swallow's Tower", Warsaw: SuperNOWA, 1997
  • "Pani jeziora / Mistress of the Lake", Warsaw: SuperNOWA, 1999
Other:
  • "A Manuscript Discovered in a Dragon's Cave", Warsaw: SuperNOWA, 2001 "(more...)"
  • "Narrenturm", Warszawa: SuperNOWA, 2002
Selected translations:
  • Czech: "Zaklinac", Prague: Winston Smith, 1992; - "Krev elfu", Ostrava: Leonardo, 1995; - "Cas opovzeni", Ostrava: Leonardo, 1996; - "Krest ohem", Ostrava: Leonardo, 1997
  • German: "Der letzte Wunsch", München: Heyne Verlag, 1998; - "Das Schwert der Vorsehung", München: Heyne Verlag, 1998
  • Lithuanian: "Likimo kalavijas", Kaunas: Dagonas, 1997
  • Russian: "Wied'mak", Moscow: AST Publishers, 1996; - "Krov elfov", Moscow: AST Publishers, 1996; - "Chas priezrieniya", Moscow: AST Publishers, 1997; - "Krieshcheniye agniom", Moscow: AST Publishers, 1997

Source: www.polska2000.pl, Copyright: Stowarzyszenie Willa Decjusza

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Martha Argerich and Maria João Pires at the "Chopin and His Europe" Festival
August 30, 2010
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Andrzej Sosnowski
On Monday, September 20, the first Polish arena for the Euro 2012 Cup will open in Poznań. The official ceremony will be honoured with a concert featuring Sting performing with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Steven Mercurio.
Until September 25 (except for Sundays and holidays), the John the Baptist Archcathedral in Warsaw will host daily organ recitals as part of the 7th edition of the "Grand Organ of the Archicathedral" Festival.
"Dotyk człowieka/Beruehrungen" is the title of the exhibition presenting works of six Polish contemporary artists displayed at the German Embassy in Warsaw (Jazdów street): on view until September 27.
On October 17, the National Museum in Poznań will host the first public presentation of Claude Monet's "Beach in Pourville". The painting was stolen ten years ago. The painting returned to the museum in January 2010 after the folice found the thief.
Jazz pianist Chick Corea will give his only Polish solo concert on November 8 in Zabrze.
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