In Search of Authenticity: 16th International Joseph Conrad Literature Festival
On 21–27 October, writers from all over the world will meet with an audience at the 16th International Joseph Conrad Literature Festival in Krakow. Together we will discuss what authenticity is, and where in literature we can find it.
We especially invite you to meetings with British guests:
WEDNESDAY, 23.10.2024
14:00 Real Talk
Gabriel Krauze and Jacek Żebrowski in conversation
Venue: Małopolski Ogród Sztuki, ul. Rajska 12
What is the opposite of authenticity? Fake, posturing, pretentiousness. Falsehood that can be felt and that is unforgivable. It can intoxicate with short-term fame, but it will make us lose face. Choosing the road less traveled costs money, but often thanks to it we can look in the mirror without shame.
An honest conversation about how being yourself in life and writing is the biggest challenge. These are writers who share a sense of the street: the rhythms, the pulse, the culture (and counterculture), and of course the city itself.
Gabriel Krauze (1986) - British writer of Polish descent. He grew up in London, and in his early youth he belonged to a gang on the South Kilburn estate. Writing allowed him to escape his criminal activities. His debut novel, Who They Was (2022), was nominated for the Booker Prize and the Dylan Thomas Prize, and was named the best book of the year by "the Spectator".
SUNDAY, 27.10.2024
12:00 A Bite of Nature
A meeting with Monika Wilde
Host: Łukasz Łuczaj
Location: Małopolski Ogród Sztuki, ul. Rajska 12
When moving in the field of literature, you can sometimes forget that naturalness is primarily the world around us - something that you can touch, smell or... eat. An outdoor meeting with Monica Wilde is a unique opportunity for a bite of nature. Literally.
Monica Wilde - writer, herbalist, and ethno-botanist. She lives in West Lothian in a self-built wooden house. In her wild garden, she grows many species of plants, primarily for medicinal purposes. She is a member of the Linnean Society, the British Mycological Society and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). She also runs courses in herbalism. This year her book The wilderness cure will be published in Polish.
We invite you to the Conrad Festival channels:
The organizers of the Conrad Festival are the City of Krakow, KBF – the operator of the Krakow UNESCO City of Literature program, and the Tygodnik Powszechny Foundation.
Strategic partners: "Tygodnik Powszechny" and Allegro.
Funding: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
The project is co-financed by the City of Krakow.
The British Council is a partner of the event.