The Art of Looking: between photography and literature - an author event with Wioletta Greg

Edinburgh Central Library and Studies in Photography invite you to an evening with Wioletta Greg, one of Poland's most acclaimed contemporary writers, on Wednesday 16 September at 6.00 pm.Wioletta Greg lives in Lewes, on the banks of the River Ouse in East Sussex. She has received international recognition for her work, having been longlisted for the International Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation and the Griffin Poetry Prize.During the event Wioletta will talk about her writing, her inspirations and her experience of living and writing between Poland and England. She will also speak about the influence of photography on her writing, discussing questions such as whether photographs play a role in building scenes and characters, how visual memory shapes narrative, and how observation can be transformed into literature.The conversation will be led by Grayna Fremi Hamilton, an art historian and enthusiast of literature, together with Cecylia O'May, a librarian at Central Library and coordinator of the Found in Translation book group, dedicated to literature in translation. Michael Barker, actor and musician, will read extracts from Gregs poetry and prose.Wioletta Gregs books translated into English:Swallowing Mercury (2017) translated by Eliza Marciniak
A lyrical autobiographical novel about childhood in rural Poland during the late communist era. Through the eyes of a young girl, Wioletta Greg recreates a world of family stories, folk beliefs, nature, and the fragile border between memory and imagination. The book was longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize and received international acclaim for its poetic language and evocative portrayal of childhood.Accommodations (2019) translated by Jennifer Croft
The continuation of the story begun in Swallowing Mercury, following the protagonist as she leaves her rural home and enters adult life in the city. A coming-of-age novel about migration, identity, belonging, and the search for a place in the world. Written with Gregs distinctive poetic precision, it explores the experience of adapting to new people, places, and circumstances.Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance (2014) translated by Marek Kamierski
A collection of poems exploring memory, time, transformation, and the mysterious patterns hidden within everyday life. Combining scientific imagery, personal history, and lyrical reflection, the collection reveals Gregs fascination with chance, change, and the fragile structures that shape human existence. The book was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize in Canada.The event is free of charge but advance registration via TicketSource is required.