Poems

(Paperback)

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The perfect introduction to a classic Polish poet, one of the most intriguing writers of his period. Though Cyprian Norwid is often classified as belonging to the late Romantic period, his work is so original that it is almost impossible to place neatly into one tradition. His beloved Vade-Mecum, celebrated as one of his most important works, broke with all convention, breathing new life into the Polish language Norwid so loved with its spare but layered lyricism. Poems is an engaging selection of some of Norwid's most notable and beloved work.

Reviews

One of the greatest world poets of the nineteenth century. Roman Jakobson

He carried his soul around with him as if it were some kind of numismatic rarity, unknown to anyone, unwanted, useless . . . He resembled a stone salvaged from some marvelous edifice, which somewhere, sometime had burnt down completely. Jsef Tokarzewicz

Hen ventures to describe what is indescribable, and . . . he succeeds Joanna Janecka Of the things of this world only two will remain, Two only: poetry and goodness . . . and nothing else... Cyprian Norwid

Poignant . . . flows onto the page with a melodic rush, conveyed in Borchardts nuanced rhymes and assonances . . . Off the page leaps surprise after surprise. The Arts Fuse

One of Europe's greatest poets and thinkers. We are all deeply indebted to him. . . . Norwid left an opus from which shines the light that lets us more deeply penetrate the truth of our being as human persons . . . He insistently reminds us that without heroism humanity ceases to be itself. Cyprian Norwid was the man of hope. Pope John Paul II

Author Bio

Cyprian Norwid (1821-1883), poet, playwright, novelist, thinker, and visual artist, was virtually unknown during his lifetime. His poetry, filled with aphorisms and multi-layered metaphor, is largely free of the melodic tone typical of Romantic poetry. When the occupying powers censored all writing in the Polish language, Norwid went into exile, moving through Europe and America. He died in a hostel in Ivry. Following a career in psychiatry, Danuta Borchardt began translating the novels of Witold Gombrowicz. Her Ferdydurke received the National Translation Award in 2001, her Cosmos was awarded a NEA fellowship, and her Pornografia won the prestigious Found-in-Translation Award in 2010. Borchardt s short fiction has regularly appeared in Exquisite Corpse.