Polish Literature as World Literature

This anthology presents the work of several authors from different academic disciplines. Film and literature experts, sociologists, historians and theatrologists analyse the Polish memory of the Nazi and Stalinist occupations, which are key components of Polish collective identity.

“O! Polsko, kraino!” This desperate cry in one of Chopin’s durges is what inspired me to choose “KRAINA” as the title of this album of Polish art song. In Polish literature we often hear this cry to the motherland – we either cry to her or she cries to us. “Kraina” can be literally translated as “land,” but in the Polish language can also be interpreted as “motherland” or “homeland.” In Polish, Poland translates to “Polska” – she is feminine, as is “Kraina.” And there is something distinctly feminine about her, a mother that remains forever in the hearts of her children even if they are forced to leave her.