Fiction 
(b. 1974) – prose writer, essayist, translator and critic. Author of speculative fiction, including science fiction, fantasy and cyberpunk. In his first prose book,…
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Fiction
Paweł Huelle
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The Book Institute offers translations of excerpts from Paweł Huelle’s works in the following languages: English, German and Ukrainian. Interested parties are kindly invited to contact us.
(1957 – 2023) – prose writer, columnist, playwright, journalist, editor, cultural organiser.
Huelle became renowned in Poland and abroad thanks to his debut novel “Weiser Dawidek” (published in English as Who Was David Weiser?). Like almost all of his books, it is set in Gdańsk. The title character, a Jewish boy, leads his friends into the “city’s secret topography”, mentions the strange-sounding German names of streets and districts, shows them the houses of famous residents, including Schopenhauer. At the end of the 1980s this gesture was very significant: it showed an openness towards the hitherto silenced history of Gdańsk – one that was absent from official accounts of a city that was dominated by German culture and language.
Huelle is counted among the creators of the so-called Gdańsk school in contemporary Polish prose. He referred to this city’s phenomenon in later short story collections (“Opowiadania na czas przeprowadzki” – published in English as Moving House and Other Stories; “Pierwsza miłość i inne opowiadania” – First Love and Other Stories). His novel “Mercedes-Benz. Z listów do Hrabala” – published in English as Mercedes Benz) includes anecdotes from family history, recalling in one of the subplots the automobile stories with his grandfathers as protagonists. Huelle didn’t move far from Gdańsk, however – it is in this city that the main character and narrator of Mercedes Benz takes driving lessons, and like the protagonist in one of Bohumil Hrabal’s stories tries to “talk over” his lack of progress in the art of motoring. Huelle’s work, both in terms of literary allusions and style, enters into a dialogue with the Czech master’s prose: imitation, in this case, is a sort of homage paid to Hrabal.
In his next novel Huelle started another dialogue; this time with Thomas Mann, who mentions in The Magic Mountain that its protagonist, Hans Castorp, studied shipbuilding at the Gdańsk (Danzig) Polytechnic for four semesters. The author of Castorp “developed” this episode from the life of Mann’s character, confronted him with the German east, where the tone was set also by Poles from Gdańsk, and even more by Kashubians. This confrontation between a newcomer from Lübeck with the Slavic element is at the novel’s centre and critics agree that it forms the book’s most valuable theme.
“Ostatnia wieczerza” (published in English as The Last Supper) can be seen as a turn towards contemporary themes. The plot of this novel plays out over one day in Gdańsk; the time is not pinpointed, but one can assume that it is the beginning of the 21st century, although it might as well be Gdańsk in the near future. A group of friends, most of them prominent residents of the city, attends a photoshoot to take a photo so that a local painter can create a modern version of Leonardo’s titular masterpiece. The current “apostles” belong to one generation, shaped in the last decade of the Polish People’s Republic. This plot device allows the writer to paint a portrait of artistic and intellectual elites, and especially to introduce themes of coming to terms with one’s past.
The novel “Śpiewaj ogrody” (Sing Gardens) can, in turn, be seen as something of a summary of the author’s fascinations. It develops concepts included in Huelle’s early short stories. We return to Oliwa, a district of Gdańsk, to an old house in Polanki Street inhabited by Mrs Hoffmann, one of the few German residents who did not leave the city in 1945. She introduces the child protagonist – whom the author gave his own features – into the richness of German culture, especially its music. Three stories are intertwined: the lives of Mr and Mrs Hoffman (mostly in the 1930s); the fate of the protagonist’s father, a post-war lodger at the house; and the story of a certain Frenchman who settled in the same place in mid-18th century.
The author’s last book is the collection of short stories “Talita”. The title refers to the biblical story of the raising of Jairus’ daughter; Jesus told her “Talitha koum” (“Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). It provides a point of departure for a tale about love and lack of fulfilment, yearning and desire, sin and attempts to atone for it. “It doesn’t seem important whether the writer really delved into the records of the abbey in Oliwa, if he did in fact take part in a fight at a Roma camp, or whether his adult female relative stirred in him, a youngster, the beginnings of male pride. It is, in fact, irrelevant compared to the fact that his stylistically sophisticated prose – always mysteriously oblique – is perfectly organised fiction” – wrote Janusz R. Kowalczyk about “Talita”.
Paweł Huelle’s work was the basis of the theatre plays “Stół” (The Table) and “Srebrny deszcz” (Silver Rain) for the Teatr Telewizji, and “Kąpielisko Ostrów” (The Ostrów Lido) at the Juliusz Osterwa Theatre in Lublin. Huelle received, among others, the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Silver Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture, the Kościelski Award, the Polish PEN Club Award and the Polityka’s Passport Award.
Bibliography
- Weiser Dawidek, Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Morskie, 1987; 2. corrected edition. London–Warsaw: PULS, 1992.
- Opowiadania na czas przeprowadzki, London–Warsaw: PULS, 1991.
- Wiersze, Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Morskie, 1994.
- Pierwsza miłość i inne opowiadania, London–Warsaw: PULS, 1996.
- Inne historie, Gdańsk: słowo/obraz terytoria, 1999.
- Mercedes-Benz. Z listów do Hrabala, Cracow: Znak, 2001.
- Byłem samotny i szczęśliwy, Warsaw: Rosner & Wspólnicy, 2003.
- Castorp, Gdańsk: słowo/obraz terytoria, 2004.
- Ostatnia Wieczerza, Cracow: Znak, 2007.
- Opowieści chłodnego morza, Cracow: Znak, 2008.
- Śpiewaj ogrody, Cracow: Znak, 2014.
- Ulica świętego Ducha i inne historie, Cracow: Znak, 2016.
- Obłoki jasne nad tobą, Paris–Cracow: Fundacja Suseia, 2018.
- Talita, Cracow: Znak, 2020.
Translations
Belarussian:
- Вайзер Давідэк [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Marina Szoba, Minsk: Logwinaj, 2014.
Bulgarian:
- Мерцедес–Бенц [Mercedes-Benz. Z listów do Hrabala], trans. Sylwia Borisowa, Sofija: Colibri, 2009.
- Възпявай градините [Śpiewaj ogrody],trans. Sylwia Borisowa, Sofija: Izdatielstwo Ergo, 2023.
Croatian:
- Gdje je David Weiser? [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Ivana Vidović Bolt, Zagreb: Naklada MD, 2005.
- Mercedes-Benz, trans. Ivana Vidović Bolt, Zagreb: MeandarMedia, 2012.
- Posljednja večera [Ostatnia wieczerza], trans. Ivana Vidović Bolt, Zagreb: MeandarMedia, 2013.
Czech:
- Davidek Weiser [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Pavel Miňovský, Praha: Mladá Fronta, 1996.
- Mercedes-Benz, trans. Jan Faber, Zlín: Kniha, 2010.
- Příběhy chladného moře [Opowieści chłodnego morza], trans. Pavel Peč, Praga: Argo, 2012.
- Poslední večeře [Ostatnia wieczerza], trans. Jan Faber, Zlín: Kniha, 2013.
Dutch:
- Wie is Dawid Weiser [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Karol Lesman, Amsterdam: Amber, 1991.
- De tafel [Opowiadania na czas przeprowadzki], trans. Karol Lesman, Amsterdam: Februari Boekhandels, 2002.
- Mercedes-Benz, trans. Karol Lesman, Breda: De Geus, 2003.
English:
- Moving House and Other Stories [Opowiadania na czas przeprowadzki], trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, London: Bloomsbury Press, 1994.
- Who was David Weiser? [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, London: Bloomsbury, 1991.
- Mercesdes-Benz [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, London: Serpents Tail Publishing, 2005.
- Castorp, trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, London: Serpents Tail Publishing, 2007.
- The Last Supper [Ostatnia wieczerza], trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, London: Serpents Tail Publishing, 2008.
- Cold Sea Stories [Opowieści chłodnego morza], trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, London: Comma Press, 2012.
Finnish:
- Kuka olet David Weiser? [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Kirsti Siraste, Helsingissä: Otava, 1995.
French:
- Weiser David [Weiser Dawidek], trans. François Rosset, Lausanne: l’Âge d’Homme, 1990.
- Rue Polanki et autres nouvelles [wybór opowiadań], trans. Jean-Yves Erhel. Paris: Éditions Gallimard, 2000.
- Mercedes-Benz: sur des lettres à Hrabal [Mercedes-Benz], Paris: Éditions Gallimard, 2004.
German:
- Weiser Dawidek, trans. Renate Schmidgall, Frankfurt am Main: Luchterhand-Literaturverlag, 1990.
- Schnecken, Pfützen, Regen und andere Geschichten aus Gdansk [Opowiadania na czas przeprowadzki], trans. Renate Schmidgall, Frankfurt am Main: Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, 1996.
- Mercedes-Benz. Aus den Briefen an Hrabal [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Renate Schmidgall, Frankfurt am Main: Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, 1996.
- Verschollene Kapitel: litararische Feuilletons [wybór felietonów], trans. Renate Schmidgall, Hamburg: ROSPO, 1999.
- Silberregen: Danziger Erzählungen [Pierwsza miłość], trans. Renate Schmidgall, Berlin: Rowohlt-Berlin, 2000.
- Castorp, trans. Renate Schmidgall, München: C.H. Beck, 2005.
Hebrew:
- קסטורפ [Castorp], trans. Rafi Weichert, Tel Awiw: Xargol, 2009.
Hungarian:
- Mercedes-Benz: levelek Hrabalnak [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Noémi Kertész, Budapest: Európa, 2003.
- Castorp, trans. Noémi Kertész, Budapest: Európa, 2007.
- Utolsó vacsora [Ostatnia wieczerza], trans. Gábor Körner, Budapest: Európa, 2009.
Italian:
- Cognome e nome Weiser Dawidek [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Vera Verdiani, Milano: Feltrinelli, 1990.
- Lumache, pozzanghere, pioggia: racconti per il periodo del trasloco [Opowiadania na czas przeprowadzki], trans. Vera Verdiani, Milano: Feltrinelli, 1995.
- Primo amore e altri racconti [wybór opowiadań], trans. Vera Verdiani, Milano: Feltrinelli, 2002.
- Mercedes-Benz: da alcune lettere a Hrabal [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Raffaella Belletti, Roma: Voland, 2007.
Japanese:
- ヴァイゼル・ダヴィデク [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Inoue Satoko, Kioto: Shōraisha, 2021.
Lithuanian:
- Mercedes-Benz. Iš laiškų Hrabalui [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Vytautas Dekšnys, Vilnius: Baltos Lankos, 2011.
Norwegian:
- Hvem var Dawid Weiser? [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Jan Brodal, Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1991.
Portuguese:
- A Última Ceia [Ostatnia wieczerza], trans. Teresa Fernandes Swiatkiewicz, Estoril: Sopa de Letras, 2008.
- Mercedes-Benz: Cartas a Bohumil Hrabal [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Teresa Fernandes Swiatkiewicz, Estoril: Sopa de Letras, 2008.
- Quem foi David Weiser? [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Tomasz Barcinski, Rio de Janeiro: Record, 2012.
Romanian:
- Mercedes-Benz: din scrisorile către Hrabal [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Radosława Janowska-Lascar, Iaşi: Polirom, 2004.
- Eram singur şi fericit [Byłem szczęśliwy i samotny; Opowiadania na czas przeprowadzki], trans. Radosława Janowska-Lascar, Mihaela Cornelia Fiscutean, Iaşi: Plirom, 2014.
Russian:
- Вайзер Давидек [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Wadim Klimowski, Sankt-Peterburg: Azbuka-Klassika, 2003.
- „Мерседес–бенц”: из писем к Грабалу [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Irina Adelgejm, Moskwa: Nowoje Literaturnoje Obozrenje, 2004.
- Касторп [Castrop], trans. Ksenia Starosielska, Moskwa: Nowoje literaturnoje obozrenje, 2005.
- Тайная вечеря [Ostatnia wieczerza], trans. Ksenia Starosielska, Moskwa: Nowoje literaturnoje obozrenje, 2009.
Serbian:
- Mercedes-Benz: iz pisama Hrabalu [Mercedes-Benz], [trans. Milan Duškov], Beograd: Narodna Knjiga – Alfa, 2003.
Slovenian:
- Castorp, trans. Jasmina Šuler-Galos, Maribor: Študentska založba Litera, 2007.
- David Weiser [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Jana Unuk, Ljubljana: Beletrina, 2007.
- Zadnja večerja [Ostatnia wieczerza], trans. Jana Unuk, Ljubljana: Modrijan, 2010.
- Mercedes-Benz: iz pismem Hrabalu [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Staša Pavlović, Ljubljana: Beletrina, 2014.
Spanish:
- Quién es Weiser Dawidek [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Pilar Gil Cánovas, Barcelona: Seix Barral, 1991.
- Mercedes-Benz: según cartas a Bohumil Hrabal [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Pilar Gil Cánovas, Barcelona: El Aleph, 2003.
- Castorp, trans. Anna Rubió Rodon, Jerzy Sławomirski, Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2011.
Swedish:
- Vem var Dawid Weiser? [Weiser Dawidek], trans. Anders Bodegård, Stockholm: Bromberg 1995.
Ukrainian:
- Мерседес Бенц : із багажником [Mercedes-Benz], trans. Larisa Andrijewśka, Lwiw: Widawnictwo Anetti Antonenko, 2019.
- Повісті холодного моря [Opowieści chłodnego morza], trans. Wiktor Dmitruk, Lwiw: Knigi-XXI, 2019.
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