Maria Halber

(b. 1989) – a writer, poet and editor.

She has published in magazines including “Pismo”, “Dwutygodnik”, “Wizje”, “Tlen Literacki” and “Mały Format”. She debuted with the poetry collections “Przejścia” (Transfers), and in 2023 she published her prose debut “Strużki” (Trickle, Cyranka publishing house). She received the Adam Włodek Scholarship from the Wisława Szymborska Foundation and the Conrad Award for the best prose debut of 2023. She was also a laureate of The Haul 2018 programme organised by Biuro Literackie. She is associated with the independent queer publishing outfit Girls and Queers to the Front.

Her debut poetry volume explores the space of a huge, indifferent city. The subject of Transfers describes a depressing reality which triggers a feeling of resignation, but also – through the more personal, even confessional poems – talks about herself. What emerges is an image of ordinary, dull everyday life, crushing in its indifference.

The formation of a female subject is the main theme of Halber’s second book, Trickle. It tells the story of a friendship between two young girls, who – despite the differences in their appearance and temperament – become virtually inseparable. The protagonists’ development is set against the symbolism of insects and parasites, which opens up an exploration of interactions between young women and the seeds of toxic relationships. Halber “pins down” teenage friendships, portraying the process of self-determination and the emergence of a subjectivity. Her oeuvre reveals an interest in femininity, girlhood and the tension between an individual and the world.

Her books have been translated into English.