Inauguration of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the birth of Zbigniew Herbert
On Sunday, March 10, the National Library hosted a discussion entitled "Herbert and the World". Held in the Library's new reading rooms, the event marked the start of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Polish playwright and essayist Zbigniew Herbert. Discussing Herbert's works were: Edward Hirsch, poet, translator and President of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation; Michael Kruger, poet and publisher; and Ryszard Krynicki, poet and publisher.
The discussion was organised jointly by the Zbigniew Herbert Foundation and the National Library. Among the many distinguished guests were former Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek and the Director of National Centre for Culture Poland, Robert Piaskowski. They were welcomed by the President of the Zbigniew Herbert Foundation, Maria Dzieduszycka, and the General Director of the National Library, Dr Tomasz Makowski.
Poems by Zbigniew Herbert were read by Agata Buzek. At the end of the discussion, the audience heard Herbert's Report from a Besieged City in an unusual interpretation recorded by the poet himself.
Watch the discussion here: