Lovetown
Michal Witkowski: Lovetown
Translated from Polish by Bill Martin, Portobello Books, October 2009
Lubiewo is the first novel published in Poland which portrays what it was like to be different and gay in a communist state. It is unusual for its frank and open view of a world that is unfamiliar to outsiders, and for making it accessible to them. It is also unusual for its fresh and original voice and for a very humane and warm exploration of a fairly controversial subject matter.
The book has been published in Poland to a great critical acclaim and won many prestigious literary prizes
Growing up gay in a communist state, queens Patricia and Lucretia spent the 70s and 80s underground, finding glamour in the squalor, frequenting parks and public toilets, seducing hard Soviet soldiers, preying on drunks, and seeing their friends die of AIDS. Life hasn't been easy for them, between communists regime and Catholic church being gay was not an option. Now times have changed and they're about to hit Lovetown, populated by a younger generation of emancipated gays, who are out and proud in their post-communist paradise. But is the country ready for free, emancipated and open gays?
Michal Witkowski was born in 1975 and is the author of a book of short stories, Copyright (2001) and two novels. This is his first novel in Polish and the first novel to appear in English. He won many prizes with both novels in Poland. He lives in Warsaw.
Bill Martin (b. Rochester, New York, 1976) published translations (from Polish and German) include Natasza Goerke's Farewells to Plasma (Twisted Spoon, 2002), selected essays in The Günter Grass Reader (Harcourt, 2004), Erich Kästner's Emil and the Detectives (Overlook Press, 2007).
Translated from Polish by Bill Martin, Portobello Books, October 2009
Lubiewo is the first novel published in Poland which portrays what it was like to be different and gay in a communist state. It is unusual for its frank and open view of a world that is unfamiliar to outsiders, and for making it accessible to them. It is also unusual for its fresh and original voice and for a very humane and warm exploration of a fairly controversial subject matter.
The book has been published in Poland to a great critical acclaim and won many prestigious literary prizes
Growing up gay in a communist state, queens Patricia and Lucretia spent the 70s and 80s underground, finding glamour in the squalor, frequenting parks and public toilets, seducing hard Soviet soldiers, preying on drunks, and seeing their friends die of AIDS. Life hasn't been easy for them, between communists regime and Catholic church being gay was not an option. Now times have changed and they're about to hit Lovetown, populated by a younger generation of emancipated gays, who are out and proud in their post-communist paradise. But is the country ready for free, emancipated and open gays?
Michal Witkowski was born in 1975 and is the author of a book of short stories, Copyright (2001) and two novels. This is his first novel in Polish and the first novel to appear in English. He won many prizes with both novels in Poland. He lives in Warsaw.
Bill Martin (b. Rochester, New York, 1976) published translations (from Polish and German) include Natasza Goerke's Farewells to Plasma (Twisted Spoon, 2002), selected essays in The Günter Grass Reader (Harcourt, 2004), Erich Kästner's Emil and the Detectives (Overlook Press, 2007).