Adam Wiedemann Writer of poetry and prose Date of Birth: 24.12.1967 Country: Poland

1. A Biography of Adam Widemann
2. Adam's Creative Position
3. About Adam Widemann
4. Writing for Himself and Others
5. Literary Interests and Polish Society
6. A Polish Identity
7. The Book "Where the Dog is Buried"

A Biography of Adam Widemann

Adam Widemann is a contemporary Polish writer of poetry and prose. In recent years, a series of books by modern Polish authors, including Widemann, have been published by the "New Literary Review" publishing house, with Tatiana Izotova as the project's author. Widemann is a fashionable young writer, known for his several books of poetry and prose. He recently visited Moscow to present his work, particularly his book of short stories titled "Where the Dog is Buried," which was released in Russian.

Adam's Creative Position

In an interview, Adam Widemann discussed his creative position as a writer. He expressed his belief that everything in the world is interesting and that he is more focused on the details and nuances of life rather than grand themes. He finds metaphysical meaning in these details and believes that we only know as much about others as we currently need to know. Widemann emphasizes the importance of doing what suits us in a given situation.

About Adam Widemann

Adam Widemann was born in a village to a family of teachers. He is 36 years old. His German surname was inherited from his grandfather, who survived Auschwitz but passed away shortly after being liberated from the concentration camp. Widemann considers Polish to be his native language and does not speak German. He studied Polish language and literature at the University of Krakow. Widemann consciously chose the path of a writer, as he began writing stories at the age of 17. He later discovered a love for poetry.

Writing for Himself and Others

When asked whether he writes for himself or to convey something important to others, Widemann admitted that he primarily writes for himself. He does not feel the need to write specifically for someone else, as it would become a duty. However, he has found that what he writes also interests others. Widemann mentioned his Russian translator, Yuri Chaynikov, who helped him see interesting aspects of his stories that he had not noticed before. He believes that all writers fear the same things in the world but may express them differently.

Literary Interests and Polish Society

Widemann discussed the literary interests in Poland, noting that people mainly read newly published books. Older books are easily forgotten. He mentioned that contemporary Polish literature tends to be politically engaged and focused on current political moments, which quickly become outdated. This may explain his preference for writing poetry in recent years, as he believes poetry has a longer "shelf life." Widemann also expressed concern about the decreasing exchange of information between countries.

In terms of what concerns the generation of 30-40-year-old Poles, Widemann mentioned unemployment, land rights, growing consumerism, violence, and corruption. He believes that many people feel uncomfortable with the need to compete in all areas of life and that it goes against the Polish spirit. However, he acknowledged that younger generations may see it differently.

A Polish Identity

When asked about being Polish, Widemann mentioned a tendency toward rebellion and dissent within Polish character. He cited the poet Tadeusz Różewicz as an example, who was known for his sarcasm and mockery of official matters. Widemann also mentioned the renowned Polish poet, Czesław Miłosz, who believed that evil was an integral part of the world. Despite this, Widemann believes that it is important to always notice the good that we encounter.

The Book "Where the Dog is Buried"

Widemann's book "Where the Dog is Buried" is a collection of five short stories written at different times. Each story explores different themes and ideas. For example, the story "The Captain" reflects on the existence of spirits and their influence on the lives of the living. Another story, "Sudden Hearing Loss," discusses the idea that there is no art form that is universally perfect for everyone. Widemann also explores the notion that chance occurrences have reasons and consequences, questioning whether humans can truly comprehend them. While love is not a prominent theme in Widemann's work, he is interested in the various forms it can take and the bitter aftermath that sometimes remains.