POLISH LITERARY CANON AS A CHALLENGE FOR A FOREIGN SPECIALIST IN POLISH STUDIES: THE PROBLEM OF TRANSLATION

In the article an attempt is made to answer the question why some Polish literary works are included in the world canon and some others, endorsed by Polish critics as excellent, are not. The author discusses The Western Canon of Harold Bloom and the criteria for including some literary works in Bloom’s canon and excluding others from this canon. There are only a few works of Polish literature on Bloom’s list. This is a starting point for the discussion about the presence of Polish literature in the world canon. As far as non-English literary works are concerned, the shape of the canon is influenced by several factors. Translation into English is only a prerequisite for a more important role in the world canon. Anthologies also play a decisive role in this process. However, there are a few other equally important factors: an influential, well known translator; a mainstream publishing house; recommendations of renowned critics; and reviews in prestigious journals and magazines. For that reason there are works and authors that can be found in the world canon, e.g. the latest translation of Ferdydurke, included as the only Polish literary work on a list of 501 Must-Read Books published by Bounty Books in 2007. This translation was included because it was published by Yale University Press, recommended by Susan Sontag and favourably reviewed by „The Observer”. This is also the case with the poetry Adam Zagajewski –he is in the canon not only because he is an excellent poet but also because he is a professor of prestigious American universities; his poetry and essays are present in magazines, such as „New Yorker”; he has an influential translator; his works  are published by well known publishers and revieweed by „The New York Review of Books”. Only in such circumstances is there a chance to include a work of a minor literature in the world canon.

In the article an attempt is made to answer the question why some Polish literary works are included in the world canon and some others, endorsed by Polish critics as excellent, are not. The author discusses The Western Canon of Harold Bloom and the criteria for including some literary works in Bloom’s canon and excluding others from this canon. There are only a few works of Polish literature on Bloom’s list. This is a starting point for the discussion about the presence of Polish literature in the world canon. As far as non-English literary works are concerned, the shape of the canon is influenced by several factors. Translation into English is only a prerequisite for a more important role in the world canon. Anthologies also play a decisive role in this process. However, there are a few other equally important factors: an influential, well known translator; a mainstream publishing house; recommendations of renowned critics; and reviews in prestigious journals and magazines. For that reason there are works and authors that can be found in the world canon, e.g. the latest translation of Ferdydurke, included as the only Polish literary work on a list of 501 Must-Read Books published by Bounty Books in 2007. This translation was included because it was published by Yale University Press, recommended by Susan Sontag and favourably reviewed by „The Observer”. This is also the case with the poetry Adam Zagajewski –he is in the canon not only because he is an excellent poet but also because he is a professor of prestigious American universities; his poetry and essays are present in magazines, such as „New Yorker”; he has an influential translator; his works  are published by well known publishers and revieweed by „The New York Review of Books”. Only in such circumstances is there a chance to include a work of a minor literature in the world canon.