Milosz Biedrzycki in residence at International Writing Program

Miłosz Biedrzycki (b. 1967, also known by his pen name MLB) is a leading poet of the Polish bruLion generation-named for their underground literary journal-who began publishing during the last years of Communism, influenced by the poetics of the commonplace associated with the New York School poets, John Ashbery, Frank O'Hara, Kenneth Koch, and Allen Ginsburg, and rebelling against the Romantic idea of the poet as a prophet.

Since his debut in 1989, Biedrzycki has published over six volumes of verse. His poems have appeared in English in Chicago Review, Fence, Trafika, and Zoland Poetry; and his first English-language collection, 69, came out in August 2010 from Zephyr Press.

During his residency, Biedrzycki, whose work has been translated into eight languages and who translates poetry from English and Slovenian into Polish, most notably that of Tomaz Salamun, will appear on a panel at the Iowa City Public Library to discuss literary translation. He will also read and discuss his own poems at Iowa City's Prarie Lights Bookstore, acclaimed for its distinguished reading series.

IWP writers also have the opportunity to travel for appearances and to make professional contacts throughout the USA during their residencies. Milosz Biedrzycki will be making an appearance at the Brooklyn Book Festival, where he will share a stage stage for a panel with editors from New Directions, Archipelago, Ugly Duckling, and Zephyr presses; poets Matvei Yankelevich and Marina Temkina; and translators Susan Bernofsky, Bill Martin, and Karen Emmerich.

The International Writing Program brings outstanding authors from every continent to the University of Iowa. Each fall, 25-35 writers gather in Iowa City to work on their own projects, to give readings and lectures, to travel in the US, and to interact with American audiences and the literary community. IWP is the oldest and largest multinational writing residency in the world, with a tradition of literary excellence that has continued for more than four decades. With this residency, the Polish Cultural Institute in New York revives a long tradition of participation of Polish authors in the prestigious International Writing Program at the University of Iowa that dates to the program's beginnings in 1966 and has included such distinguished writers as Julia Hartwig, Ewa Lipska, Janusz Glowacki, Jerzy Pilch, Hanna Krall, Marzanna Kielar, Piotr Sommer, and many more.

EVENTS:

FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 3, 2010, 12:00 PM

Panel on Translation with other IWP writers

Iowa City Public Library
123 South Linn Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Admission: Free
Tel. 319.356.5200

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TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 7, 2010, 7:00 PM

Reading and Discussion with Milosz Biedrzycki

Prairie Lights Bookstore
15 South Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA
Admission: Free
and open to the public
Tel. 319.337.2681