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Crime Novels

Marek Krajewski

(b. 1966) – an author of detective novels and a former academic (classical philology). One of the most frequently translated Polish contemporary writers.

To a large degree, Krajewski caused the rebirth of the Polish detective novel in the twenty-first century and made the retro mystery novel the dominant subgenre for about a decade. All of this came from a series of novels about German policeman Eberhard Mock, beginning with ‘Śmierć w Breslau’ (Death in Breslau, 1999). The series swiftly became a bestseller. Krajewski’s novels nimbly connected elements of noir mystery, mainly in the spirit of Raymond Chandler, and the ‘small homeland’ prose. The main protagonist of the series is straight from Chandler. Mock is an equivocal man, torn between good and evil, prey to numerous addictions, yet sympathetic, mainly because he is true to his code of values. The author returned to detective noir with ‘Koniec świata w Breslau’ (End of the World in Breslau, 2003), which again boasts a dark, suffocating atmosphere. The small homeland prose is visible in the pre-war and wartime images of Breslau (Festung Breslau, 2006), a city irreversibly destroyed by ‘history unleashed’.

Krajewski very swiftly developed his own approach to the retro mystery novel, then went on to use it in further books. His trademark became unusual intrigues built around sex-related crimes or the illicit activities of more or less secret societies.

After the Mock series wrapped up, Krajewski began writing another detective series, whose main protagonist is Commissioner Edward Popielski. The action takes place in pre-war Lwów, and in later parts of the series, in post-war Wrocław as well (Krajewski’s protagonists join forces in the novel ‘Głowa Minotaura’ [Head of the Minotaur], 2009). Popielski is similar to Mock. Like the policeman from Breslau, he loves Latin, chess, stiff drinks and good food, he spends time in the company of prostitutes, and in his investigations he pays little attention to police protocol, playing by his own rules.

Krajewski has also co-written books. He has written two contemporary detective novels with Mariusz Czubaj: ‘Aleja samobójców’ (Suicide Avenue, 2008) and ‘Róże cmentarne’ (Cemetery Roses, 2009). These are part of a series whose protagonist is an officer from Gdańsk, Chief Inspector Jarosław Pater, a dauntless lover of jazz and football and a linguistic purist. These novels join elements found in the writing of both authors, such as multi-layered intrigue, a series of dark crimes, care for a precise and compelling description of the city space, humour and irony. ‘Umarli mają głos. Prawdziwe historie’ (The Dead Can Speak: True Stories, 2015) is a collaboration between Krajewski and the famous pathologist and expert witness Jerzy Kawecki. It is made up of twelve pieces the author calls ‘reportage stories’, fictionalised accounts of complex, difficult cases to which the pathologist has contributed in his decades of work.

Krajewski has taken the Grand Calibre Award (2003) and the Polityka Passport (2005), among other prizes.

Bibliography

  • Śmierć w Breslau, Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie, 1999.
  • Koniec świata w Breslau, Warsaw: W.A.B., 2003.
  • Widma w mieście Breslau, Warsaw: W.A.B., 2005.
  • Festung Breslau, Warsaw: W.A.B., 2006.
  • Dżuma w Breslau, Warsaw: W.A.B.,  2007.
  • Aleja samobójców (with Mariusz Czubaj), Warszawa: W.A.B., 2008.
  • Róże cmentarne (with Mariusz Czubaj), Warszawa: W.A.B., 2009.
  • Głowa Minotaura, Warsaw: W.A.B., 2009.
  • Erynie, Cracow: Znak, 2010.
  • Liczby Charona, Cracow: Znak, 2011.
  • Rzeki Hadesu, Cracow: Znak, 2012.
  • W otchłani mroku, Cracow: Znak, 2013.
  • Władca liczb, Cracow: Znak, 2014.
  • Arena szczurów, Cracow: Znak, 2015.
  • Mock, Cracow: Znak, 2016.
  • Mock: Ludzkie zoo, Cracow: Znak, 2017.
  • Mock: pojedynek, Cracow: Znak, 2018.
  • Mock: Golem, Cracow: Znak, 2019.
  • Mock. Moloch, Cracow: Znak, 2020.
  • Diabeł stróż, Cracow: Znak, 2021.
  • Błaganie o śmierć, Cracow: Znak, 2022.
  • Dziewczyna o czterech palcach, Cracow: Znak, 2019.
  • Pomocnik kata, Cracow: Znak, 2020.
  • Miasto szpiegów, Cracow: Znak, 2021.
  • Czas zdrajców, Cracow: Znak, 2022.
  • Demonomachia, Cracow: Znak, 2022.
  • Pasożyt, Cracow: Znak, 2023.
  • Ostra, Craccw: Znak, 2023.
  • Słowo honoru, Cracow: Znak, 2024.
  • Ostatni pisarz, Cracow: Znak, 2024.

Translations

Bulgarian:

  • Смърт в Бреслау [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Plamiena Baženowa, Sofija: Bgkniga, 2013.

Croatian:

  • Smrt u Breslauu [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Mladen Martić, Zaprešic: Fraktura 2009.
  • Kraj svijeta u Breslauu [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Mladen Martić, Zaprešic: Fraktura 2010.
  • Sablasti u Breslauu [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Mladen Martić, Zaprešic: Fraktura, 2010.

Czech:

  • Smrt v Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Michał Przybylski, Brno: MOBA, 2008.
  • Konec světa v Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Michał Przybylski, Brno: MOBA, 2009.
  • Přizraky Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau] trans. Michał Przybylski, Brno: MOBA, 2010.
  • Erínye, trans. Stanislav Komárek, Praha: Argo, 2019.
  • Charónova čísla [Liczby Charona], trans. Stanislav Komárek, Praha: Argo, 2020.

Danish:

  • Døden i Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Hanne Lone Tønnesen, København: Tiderne Skifter, 2009.
  • Kalendermordene [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Hanne Lone Tønnesen, København: Tiderne Skifter, 2009.
  • Fæstning Breslau [Festung Breslau], trans. Hanne Lone Tønnesen, København: Tiderne Skifter, 2012.
  • Spøgelser i Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Hanne Lone Tønnesen, København: Tiderne Skifter 2014.

Dutch:

  • Spoken in Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Karol Lesman, Amsterdam: Van Gennep 2007.
  • Kalendermoorden in Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Rita Depestel, Greet Pauwelijn, Amsterdam: Van Gennep, 2008.
  • De kalender-moordenaar [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Rita Depestel, Greet Pauwelijn, Amsterdam: Van Gennep, 2009.

English:

  • Death in Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Danusia Stok, London: MacLehose Press / Quercus Books, 2008.
  • Phantoms of Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Danusia Stok, London: MacLehose Press, 2010.
  • The End of the World in Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Danusia Stok, London: Quercus Books, 2013.
  • The Minotaur’s Head [Głowa Minotaura], trans. Danusia Stok, London: MacLehose Press, 2012.

French:

  • Fin du monde à Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Charles Zaremba, Paris: Éditions Gallimard, 2011.
  • La mort à Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Charles Zaremba, Paris: Éditions Gallimard, 2012.
  • Les fantômes de Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Margot Carlier, Paris: Éditions Gallimard, 2008.
  • La peste à Breslau [Dżuma w mieście Breslau], trans. Margot Carlier, Maryla Laurent, Paris: Éditions Gallimard, 2009.
  • La forteresse de Breslau [Festung Breslau], trans. Laurence Dyèvre, Paris: Éditions Gallimard, 2012.

German:

  • Tod in Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Doreen Daume, München: btb Verlag, 2002.
  • Der Kalenderblattmörder [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Paulina Schulz, München: DTV, 2006.
  • Gespenster in Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Paulina Schulz, München: DTV, 2007.
  • Festung Breslau, trans. Paulina Schulz, München: DTV, 2008.
  • Pest in Breslau [Dżuma w Breslau], trans. Paulina Schulz, München: DTV, 2009.
  • Finsternis in Breslau: Kriminalroman [Głowa Minotaura], trans. Paulina Schulz, München: DTV, 2012.

Greek:

  • To σηmaδi toy Σkopπioy [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Irena Szelągiweicz-Ellenikos, Athīna: Metaixmio, 2009.
  • Το κεφάλι του Μινώταυρου [Głowa Minotaura], trans. Anastazja Chatzigiannidis, Athīna: Metaixmio, 2010.

Hebrew:

  • שעת העקרבים [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Borys Gerus, Jeruszalajm: Keter, 2010.

Hungarian:

  • Halál Breslauban [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Péter Hermann, Budapest: Magvetö 2010.

Italian:

  • Morte a Breslavia [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Valentina Parisi, Torino: Einaudi, 2007.
  • La fine del mondo a Breslavia [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Valentina Parisi, Torino: Einaudi, 2008.
  • Fortezza Breslavia [Festung Breslau], trans. Valentina Parisi, Torino: Einaudi, 2014.

Lithuanian:

  • Pasaulio pabaigo Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Vidas Morkunas, Vilnius: Alma Litera, 2006.

Macedonian:

  • Смрт во Бреслау [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Filip Dymiewski, Skopje: Begemot, 2013.
  • Крај на светот во Бреслау [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Filip Dymiewski, Skopje: Begemot, 2014.

Norwegian:

  • Gjenferdene i Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Anne Walseng, Bergen: Vigmonstad & Bjørke, 2009.
  • Pesten i Breslau [Dżuma w Breslau], trans. Anne Walseng, Bergen: Vigmostad Bjørke, 2010.
  • Verdens ende i Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau] trans. Anne Walseng, Bergen: Vigmostad & Bjørke, 2011.

Romanian:

  • Sfȃrşitul lumii la Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Cristina Godun, Bucureşti: Crime Scene Press, 2018.

Russian:

  • Пригоршня скорпионов [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Leonid Michajłowicz Cywian, Sankt-Petersburg: Azbuka-klassika, 2005.
  • Рризраки Бреслау [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Sergiej Sokołow, Moskwa: Phantom Press 2007.
  • Голова Минотавра [Głowa Minotaura], trans. Sergiej Podrażanskij, Moskwa: Mosty Kultury / Geszarim, 2012.

Slovak:

  • Smrť v Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Tomáš Horváth, Bratislava: SLOVART, 2007.
  • Koniec sweta v Breslau [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Tomáš Horváth, Bratislava: SLOVART, 2008.
  • Pevnosť Breslau [Festung Breslau], trans. Tomáš Horváth, Bratislava: SLOVART, 2010.

Spanish:

  • Muerte en Breslau [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Fernando Otero Macías, Madrid: Alamut, 2008.
  • Fin del mundo en Breslau [Koniec świata w mieście Breslau], trans. Fernando Otero Macías, Madrid: Alamut, 2008.
  • Espectros en Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau] trans. Anna Rubió Rodón, Jerzy Sławomirski, Barcelona: RBA Libros, 2011.
  • Peste en Breslau [Dżuma w Breslau], trans. Ana Rubió Rodón, Jerzy Sławomirski, Barcelona: RBA Libros, 2011.

Swedish:

  • Vålnader i Breslau [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Lisa Mendoza Åsberg, Stockholm: Weyler, 2009.

Turkish:

  • Akrabin laneti [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. N.I. Ateş, Istambul 2011.

Ukrainian:

  • Кінець світу в Бреслау [Koniec świata w Breslau], trans. Bożena Antoniak, Kyjiw: Fakt, 2007.
  • Смерть у Бреслау [Śmierć w Breslau], trans. Bożena Antoniak, Kyjiw: Nora-Druk, 2009.
  • Голова Мінотавра [Głowa Minotaura], trans. Bożena Antoniak, Lwiw: Piramida, 2009.
  • Привиди в місті Бреслау [Widma w mieście Breslau], trans. Bożena Antoniak, Lwiw: Urbino 2010.
  • Еринії [Erynie], trans. Bożena Antoniak, Lwiw: Urbino 2010.
  • Числа Харона [Liczby Charona], trans. Bożena Antoniak, Lwiw: Urbino, 2011.

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