Discussion with: Andrij Saweneć – translator, Jacek Podsiadło – moderator | Workshops of Culture, Grodzka 7 – patio POL, PJMPremiera książki: Sofija Andruchowycz „Gwiazdozbiór Kury”

About the Book

Gwiazdozbiór Kury
A heartwarming and humorous read for all ages, Sofija Andrukhovych’s Constellation of the Hen weaves an extraordinary tale of intergenerational connection, friendship, and the bond between humans and animals. Set against the captivating backdrop of the Carpathians, the story follows old Maria and her cherished hen, Mariczka, on a perilous journey through an enchanted forest where dangers, surprises, and magical encounters await. It’s a profound exploration of courage, solitude, and hope, revealing that even in the bleakest moments, light can be found, inspiring readers to contemplate what truly matters.

This acclaimed work was featured on the White Ravens list of the International Youth Library in Munich in 2017. Translated into Polish by Andrij Sawenets, the book offers two distinct experiences: a printed edition that replicates Mariana Prochaśko’s original design, showcasing her intricate collages made from personal drawings and Olena Subach’s photographs; and an audiobook expertly narrated by the renowned actress, author, and journalist Beata Jewiarz.

About the authors

Sofija Andruchovych (born 1982 in Ivano-Frankivsk) is a prominent Ukrainian writer, translator, and publicist. After graduating from the Ukrainian Academy of Printing in Lviv, she embarked on a prolific literary career. Her published works include Milena’s Summer (2002), Old People (2003), Women of Their Men (2005; Polish edition 2007), Siomga (2007; Polish edition 2009), Felix Austria (2014; Polish edition 2016), Amadoka (2020), and her latest, Katananche (2024). Beyond her own writing, she co-edits the journal Czetwer and has lent her translation skills to a wide range of authors, from Manuela Gretkowska and J.K. Rowling to C.S. Lewis, Tony Judt, Ayn Rand, and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Her contributions to literature have been widely recognized through prestigious scholarships, including the Polish-German Homines Urbani project and the Gaude Polonia program from the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage. Andruchovyč has accumulated numerous literary awards, notably the Smołoskyp Literary Award (2001), the Litakcent of the Year Award (2014), the BBC Book of the Year Award (2014), the Joseph Conrad-Korzeniowski Literary Award (2015), the Visegrad Eastern Partnership Literary Award (2017), and the Sholem Aleichem Prize (2023).

Andrij Saweneć
(born 1977 in Kornyn, Ukraine) — translator and translation scholar. He graduated from the Ivan Franko Zhytomyr State University of Pedagogy and the European College of Polish and Ukrainian Universities. He earned his doctorate at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, where he also taught. Author of the monograph Poetry in Translation: the “Ukrainian” Szymborska (2006) and numerous translation studies articles. His translations into Ukrainian include novels by Ernest Hemingway and Salman Rushdie, as well as three selections of Wisława Szymborska’s poetry. He is the editor and translator of the Polish-Ukrainian poetry anthology Lublin from Afar, Lublin Up Close (2017). His translations into Polish include Jurek Gudz’s poem Barricades on the Cross (2014), a selection of Mykola Riabchuk’s essays Previous Life (2018), and the extended conversation Worochtarium (2019) by Yurii Andrukhovych, Oleksandr Boychenko, and Orest Drul. He is a co-editor of the Wschodni Express publishing series.