Pictured from left: Cyrian Norwid, Danuta Borchardt and Adam Zagajewski
Cyprian Norwid immerses the reader in his inventive and idiosyncratic verse in this stunning selection from his best-known poems, including a healthy sample from his most celebrated work, 'Vade-mecum'. True to its Latin title meaning "go with me", 'Vade-mecum' invites the reader to accompany Norwid on a journey through universal, timeless questions.
"The eternal fine-tuner."
- Adam Zagajewski
Poet, novelist, essayist and laureate of many pretigious literary awards, Adam Zagajewski, reads "Poems" by Cyprian Norwid in a translation by Danuta Borchardt at the Chopin Theatre in Chicago. Norwid's favored composer was Chopin. The reading is followed by a short live sample of Chopin's music. Books are available for purchase at event.
Danuta Borchardt is a former psychiatrist, writer, and translator, most well known for her excellent renditions of the work of Witold Gombrowicz. She won the 2001 National Translation Award for her version of Gombrowicz's foundational novel, Ferdydurke (Yale, 2000), the Found in Translation Award for Pornografia (Grove/Atlantic, 2009), and has also translated his late novel, Cosmos (Yale, 2005).
Recently she has been translating the work of the Polish late-Romantic poet Cyprian Kamil Norwid (1821-83) with scholar, Agata Brajerska-Mazur, and their work has appeared in The Green Integer Review, The Polish Review, Salmagundi, and The Dirty Goat. Her collection of Norwid's poems is scheduled to come out from Archipelago Books in 2011 under the title, "Vade-mecum" and Other Poems.
The Chopin Theatre in Chicago is an independent arts center in the heart of Chicago's artistic neighborhood, Wicker Park. Established in 1990, it has had approximately 1,400 events with over 7,000 presentations (5,000 theatrical, 900 film, 800 literary evenings and over 100 music, dance, visual arts and social events).
The reading takes place on the 3rd of December 2011 at 11:00 in the Chopin Theatre in Chicago.
Chopin Theatre
1543 West Division
Chicago, IL 60642
tel 773-278-1500
info@chopintheatre.com
Source: Polish Cultural Institute in New York