Kaytek has been often compared to the hero of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series – although Korczak's book was written more than 60 years before. Kaytek, like Harry is a practicing wizard. Unlike Harry, however, who attends a professional wizard academy, Kaytek is generally an autodidact whose attempt at controlling his own magical powers turns into a quest for understanding his personality and the rules of society. For Kinga Dunin, Kaytek is a book designed as a help in the difficult process of growing up. Through Kaytek's mediation, the children 'should feel the power of their will and learn to accept its boundaries'.
Hear more from Antonia Lloyd-Jones about her translation of Kaytek the Wizard!
The book, written by Korczak in 1933, is the story of a mischievous schoolboy who wants to become a wizard and is surprised to discover that he is able to perform magic spells and change reality. After a series of minor incidents and mishaps, Kaytek's increasing powers cause major chaos around the city of Warsaw. Kaytek decides to lead a double life: he sets out on a journey around the world. He leaves behind his double, who attends school and does all the things other normal kids do.
Kaytek's journey turns into a search of the meaning of his good intentions, his unique abilities and their consequences. Revolving around the notion that power is not without responsibility, nor without repercussions, this story speaks to every child's dream of freeing themselves from the endless control of adults and shaping the world to their own designs.
Thanks to the English-language translation by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, richly illustrated by Avi Katz, English readers may now get to know one of the predecessors of the most famous wizard of our time and compare their skills and personalities, no matter how different the books may turn out.
Lloyd-Jones herself is aware of the differences between the two figures: