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:
9/16, 7-9 pm*
10/21, 7-8:30 pm
11/18, 7-8:30 pm
12/16, 7-8:30 pm
* Note the longer session. We will review the books for the fall session and hint at what is to come for the winter session, introduce new and previous readers, and answer any questions.
September
Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Slave,1962, 311 pp. Nobel Prize/Emigre Novel. Link
Originally written in Yiddish by a Polish Jewish emigre, this story recounts the experience of a Jew during in the 17th century during the period in which With Fire and Sword is set.
October
Wisława Szymborska, Monologue of a Dog, 2002/2006, 95 pp. Nobel Prize/Poetry. Link
Arguably the best volume of poetry by this Nobel Prize winning poet in a dual language edition that will allow us to read her in translation and compare back to the original. Pick your favorite to read to the group.
November
Jósef Wittlin, The Salt of the Earth, 19372018, 349 pp. Interwar Period Novel. Link
A classic pacifist novel along the lines of All Quiet on the Western Front, written by a Polish veteran during the interwar period and nominated for the Nobel Prize. Just in time for Polish Independence Day and Armistice Day.
December
Dorota Masłowska, Show White and Russian Red, 2002/2005. 291 pp. Post-Communist Novel. Link
A novel by a living female author with all the trappings of post-communist Poland. Framed like a graphic novel, but heavier on dialogue and lighter on illustrations.
January-May: The list of books we will be reading in the winter session will be published in early December along with the dates of our meetings.
(TENTATIVE) June-August: We will discuss the group’s willingness to read Henryk Sienkiewicz’s The Deluge (Second Volume of The Trilogy) in three relatively equal parts over the summer of 2027 (about 300 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 film at the PACIM office and provide refreshments.
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 2027 Reading List in early August 2027.
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 choose 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 Strangers
December 2025: Joanna Asala, Polish Folklore and Myth
January 2026: Andrzej Sapkowski, The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher
February 2026: Tadeusz Borowski, This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen
March 2026: Tomasz Rózycki, To the Letter
April 2026: Stanisław Witkiewicz, Seven Plays
May 2026: Tadeusz Konwicki, The Polish Complex
June – August 2026: Henryk Sienkiewicz, With Fire and Sword