On Some Aspects of the Presence of Translated Ukrainian Literature in Poland after 1989

Abstract

The article is devoted to specific issues relating to the Polish reception of Ukrainian literature after 1989. In particular, the authors address the topic of the translation of Ukrainian literary works into Polish. Firstly, the major agents who choose and promote works that they deem should be translated into Polish are presented. The authors discuss the cases of two translators, Ola Hnatiuk and Bohdan Zadura, who have played crucial roles in this process and have also acted as literary agents. The image of Ukrainian literature conveyed to Polish readers reflects the ideals of the translators, their individual preferences and attitudes, and their conception of their own canon. Another outstanding agent is the publishing house Czarne: the article illustrates its peculiarities and its importance to the dissemination of Ukrainian literature in Poland. Secondly, the article concentrates on the translations from the point of view of the source language and examines the case of Russophone Ukrainian literature in order to explore the extent to which it is represented on the Polish book market. Finally, the authors try to assess whether and how the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022 has influenced the dynamics of the translation of Ukrainian literature into Polish.