This new literature book club in Seattle is for readers who’d like to discuss Polish literature in English.

The book for this meeting is Choukas by Zofia Nałkowska published in 1927. Choucas is a French bird name for jackdaw, in Polish kawka; the name is used symbolically for people and their sometimes strange behavior. The books examines the role of minorities in different societies and situations through its different characters and is set in Swiss Alps on the shores of Lake Geneva, where choucas are native. Nałkowska (1884-1954) was one of the prominent writers of the interview period 1918-1939 when she published several books that used psychology to shed critical light at different situations of women in the Polish society of the time. She also published after the WWII with Medaliony and her diaries being the most famous.

The translator, Ursula Phillips, has won the Found in Translation award for the translation of this book.

More: about the book on goodreads

Please contact Paulina for the Zoom invite or more info.