Calendar of Cultural Events

Please verify dates and times with The Kosciuszko Foundation Director of Cultural Affairs
Tom Pniewski -- (212) 734-2130 ext. 214

HERBERT CONFERENCE
Thursday, November 13 at 7 PM
at the Kosciuszko Foundation

Zbigniew Herbert, the great Polish poet, playwright, and essayist who died ten years ago, will be honored on Thursday evening, November
13 at 7 PM, with a special conference devoted to his life and works.

Zbigniew Herbert (1924 -1998) is revered and well-known in Poland, but less so outside Europe. A member of the Polish Home Army resistance movement (AK) during World War II, he is one of the best known and the most translated post-war Polish writers. His writing debut was a volume of verse "String of Light", published in 1956. One of Herbert’s most valuable works is a cycle of writings about Pan Cogito (Mr. Cogito), a character that is very modern but still sticks to the European cultural tradition.

Herbert himself was a distant relation of the 17th century poet George Herbert. He was educated as an economist and lawyer. In the 1980's Herbert was the main poet of the Polish anti-Communist opposition. In 1986 he moved to Paris, where he wrote for the journal "Zeszyty Literackie". He read and lectured world-wide, including a time at UCLA, and returned to Poland in 1992.

In July 2007 the Polish Government declared 2008 the “Year of Zbigniew Herbert.” An overview of his career and achievements will be followed by readings in Polish and English. No ticket is required, though donations are welcome and would be greatly appreciated.

Professor Krystyna Illakowicz, of Yale University, is coordinating the program, with Marysia Dzieduszycka , Hunter College; and Grazyna Drabik, CCNY.

For details and reservations, call the Foundation Office at (212)734-2130.

The evening is made possible by generous support from the Tadeusz Solowij Literary Fund.

All events take place at the Foundation House, unless otherwise noted. Programs subject to change. Click here for directions.

Kosciuszko Foundation programs are supported by the Mary F. Koons Charitable Trust, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the Tadeusz Solowij Literary Fund, and the KF Cultural Fund.