The artist Marek Zulawski, translation & Polish-British culture

Hi,

This issue's translation is just a short one as I'm looking after my flu-ravaged daughter (who only just got over RSV, poor thing). The translated excerpt about my father's surprise when his publisher asked him if he was writing a second autobiography (in the end, he wrote a trilogy that was only published in full many years after his death). 

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These are precisely the things I have to tell you, things I have never told anyone before

The original cover of Marek's first autobiography

Today, 16th June 1981, I received a letter from Czytelnik, the publishing house. They are planning on a reprint of my book Study for a Self-Portrait and they're asking if I'm writing any more of these memoirs. They're interested in publishing them.

As I read this letter, I was amazed. I've devoted an entire life of hard work to painting, but it's never brought me as much popularity as this one book. My previous books about art also passed without fanfare, even though they contained – I am certain – many valuable observations.

What's the reason for the success of this autobiography of mine, a book that's become a bestseller in Poland? Maybe it's simply its shameless honesty... And now I'm writing words that will appear in the second part of my memoirs, a book which will certainly, once again, be my confession.

A confession is an act of shamelessness. Confiteor omnipotenti Deo... But it's also an act of accusation – an accusation against oneself. The confessions of Saint Augustine. Or rather "Saint Marek of the Whores", as Halinka used to call me.

I'm simply saying how I am in this book. I raise my hands – I confess. This excites people, tickles an unhealthy curiosity in them, it awakens their instinct for cruelty. So here I stand naked before you – flog me if you want...

I do wonder why I'm actually doing this. It's certainly not humility. More likely narcissism or masochism. Or maybe it's simply the necessity of formulating my thoughts in black and white – understanding my own position toward the world.

Or – as I told the publisher when asked what form this second part of my memoirs would take – to tell you, Maria, everything I know about life, about art, and about myself. Everything. These are precisely the things I have to tell you, things I have never told anyone before.

My parents Marek & Maria in 1984

Being 40 years older than your spouse would, I'm sure, spur many people to write down a few things for posterity too. Here is an earlier translation of my father's writing on this topic that goes a bit deeper: 40 Years Wiser, 40 Years Stupider.

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British vs Polish food

Antoni Porowski, the popular Canadian chef with Polish roots, recently starred in a video clip comparing British and Polish food. I'm not sure why he wasn't asked to compare Canadian and Polish food instead, since he actually has a stake in both. Also, the items being compared don't always make sense - but hey, he's a charming character and you're likely to get a giggle out of his comparisons.

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That's all for this week. Many thanks for reading. If you want to support the newsletter, please forward it to a friend or donate here.

Adam

Adam Zulawski

TranslatingMarek.com / TranslatePolishMemoirs.com / Other stuff

👉 Help fund the translation of Studium do autoportretu via Paypal 👈

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