In an effort to make Polish culture accessible to a larger audience, PACIM is launching its Polish Literature in English Reading Group. The Group will read across periods and genres to introduce its members to the richness of Polish literature written by Poles, living and dead, emigrants, and the children of Polish immigrants. Through this we hope you will appreciate the commonalities among the experiences as well as the uniqueness of experiences portrayed by the authors and share your perspective with other members of the Group.
The books selected for the Group will be listed on the website and will either be in print or available in “sufficient quantity” so that used copies will be purchased. With a few exceptions, the length of the books will be around 300 pages or less to make them easy for you to read in a month. For each book, we will provide a general list of questions that we will have for all books, so that you can engage with the book, the author, and the time period in which it was written, as well as specific questions. You can also bring your own questions for the group to discuss.
This brings us to participation. PACIM will have at least one copy of the book in its library, which is available on a first come, first serve basis. If you finish early, please return it so that others can enjoy. Please read the book before the discussion. We have decided to make the discussion online to maximize participation. Finally, if you have suggestions for books that fit the mission of the group, please suggest them and let us know why you think they would be a good fit!
The group will meet on the following dates and times.
1/21, 7:00 pm
2/18, 7:00 pm
3/18, 7:00 pm
4/15, 7:00 pm
5/20, 7:00 pm
January: Andrzej Sapkowski, The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher, 1993, 352 pp. Fantasy, Link
An introduction to the fantasy world of The Witcher (also a Netflix Series and video game), this collection of seven short stories will entertain readers no matter their age or cultural heritage. Consider reading this with a young adult in your life and bring them with you and/or watching the series. We will consider other books in the series based on attendance and interest.
February: This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, Tadeusz Borowski, 1959 (1976), 180 pp. Short Stories Link
A canonical work from the postwar Polish literary corpus and thus thought of as required reading, this collection of short stories provides the reader with the opportunity to think and rethink about what it is to be human, through our humanity and inhumanity. We will also explore individual and collective memory in our discussion.
March: To the Letter, Tomasz Rózycki, 2016 (2023), 127pp. Poetry Link
A collection of modern lyrical poetry, mostly quarterns, that provide a modern post-communist perspective on Polish life, longing, and suffering. Pick your favorite to read for the group.
April: Seven Plays, Stanisław Witkiewicz, 1920s (2004), 393 pp. Surrealist Drama Link
A selection of “Witkacy’s” numerous plays provides insight into what Polishness might have meant after regaining independence through surrealist theater. In addition to reading and watching Beelzebub Sonata, which will provide a visualization of how his pieces may have been performed, we will read the “The Anonymous Work,” “The Cuttlefish,” as well as the “Theoretical Preface” and “A Few Words About the Role of the Actor in the Theatre of Pure Form.”
May: The Polish Complex, Tadeusz Konwicki, 1977 (1984), 211 pp. Surrealist Novel Link
This novel was translated into English within a few years of being published and presages conditions in Poland in the 1980s (or reflects those that already existed). A mixture of surrealism and the absurdity of the everyday, through which we will revisit what we thought we knew about Poland and the forging of Polishness through the fire of suffering. Where possible we will compare with the surrealism of Witkacy from the previous month.
(TENTATIVE) June-August: We will discuss the group’s willingness to read Henryk Sienkiewicz’s With Fire and Sword in three relatively equal parts over the summer of 2026 (about 400 pages each). A poll will be taken at the April meeting and an RSVP requested to determine if this is worth pursuing. We will require a minimum of four group members to confirm.
Once we have read the book, we will schedule a date in August to watch the 1999 film at the PACIM office and provide refreshments.
If this approach works, our plan would be to read the other two volumes of the “Trilogy” over the next three summers to keep within the page limit (The Deluge in 2027 and 2028 and Fire in the Steppe in 2029).
Our intention with the proposed offering is to create a committed group of readers that encourages each other to achieve what many Polish high school students have as required reading through a structured approach and the ability to discuss the work. What better way to become “more Polish” than through a rite of passage.
Otherwise, we will publish the Fall 2026 Reading List list in early August 2026.
If you have suggestions of literature (fiction) in translation to consider, please bring them up in the group by May.
If you want to start learning Polish to enjoy the originals, please consider our Language Classes.
General Questions:
Here are some general questions to get you started. There is no need to answer every question, rather it is a list to help you engage with the author and the context in which they wrote.
What do we know about the author?
Who were they?
Where were/are they from in Poland?
What (else) did they write? Is this their typical genre (type of writing, such as novel, story, play)?
When was the book written and what was happening in Poland at that time?
Why did the author use this genre, represent people as they did, or chose this genre?
How would you describe their language?
Who was the translator and what else have they translated?
What is the plot or storyline of the book? (Consider the same questions as for the author, but in your own words.)
Do you have a favorite story or part of the book or quote?
What is particularly Polish about the story or book (cultural content, perspective, or nothing at all)?
Previous Titles Read in the Group
September 2025: Stanisław Lem, The Star Diaries
October 2025: Olga Tokarczuk, The Empusium
November 2025: Antony Bukowski, Children of StrangersDecember 2025: Joanna Asala, Polish Folklore and Myth