Widely recognized as one of the most important figures of Polish literature (Adam Zagajewski calls him the "eternal fine-tuner"), Cyprian Norwid immerses the reader in his inventive and idiosyncratic verse in this stunning and engaging selection from his most revered poems, including the celebrated Vade-mecum. True to its Latin invitation, “go with me,” Vade-mecum invites the reader to accompany Norwid on a journey through historical moments and timeless questions. We witness Norwid decrying the money-grubbing city folk of London, befriending the composer Chopin, whom he meets during his travels in Europe and America, and lamenting the death of a friend. Lyrical, moving, and often very funny, these poems will serve as an evocative glimpse into the world of a major poet.

Translator's Note

No translation is a final one, but it is my sincere hope that I have risen to the task, at least in some measure, as has Stanisław Barańczak and others in the United States, and Adam Czerniawski and others in Great Britain, in giving the English reader the opportunity to become acquainted with one of Poland’s greatest poets.

D.B.

Authors whose publications were consulted in translating the poems in this volume

Barańczak, Stanisław

Brajerska-Mazur, Agata

Biliński, Krzysztof

Błończyk, Danuta

Błoński, Jan

Christianson, Kevin

Czerniawski, Adam

Dunajski, Antoni

Fabianowski, Andrzej

Falkowski, Stanisław

Fert, Józef

Głowiński, Michał

Gomulicki, Juliusz Wiktor

Halkiewicz-Sujak, Grażyna

Kadyjewska, Anna

Kowalska, Aniela

Maciejewski, Marian

Macios, Tomasz

Makowski, Stefan

Mitosek, Zofia

Peterkiewicz, Jerzy

Pszczołowska, Lucylla

Sawicki, Stefan

Skubalska, Teresa

Trznadel, Jacek

Zajączkowski, Ryszard

Zamącińska, Danuta

Żurowski, Maciej