embassy events 2008 

Ambassador Honors Poet Adam Zagajewski

3 June 2008

Mrs. Ashe presents Mr. Zagajewski with flowers after receiving the Czesław Miłosz award from Ambassador Ashe (more photos)

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe presented to renowned poet Adam Zagajewski the U.S. Embassy’s second annual Czesław Miłosz Award for Contributions to U.S-Polish Understanding on June 4 during a reception at the Ambassador’s Residence. The award honors an individual dedicated to promoting improved communication, closer cooperation, and greater understanding between the peoples of the United States and Poland.

The award is named after Czesław Miłosz, the Polish author and co-founder of the literary group "Zagary." During World War II, Miłosz worked in Warsaw for the underground press. He subsequently settled in France where he continued to write, winning the Prix Littéraire Européen in 1953. In 1960, at the invitation of the University of California, Miłosz moved to Berkeley where he was Professor of Slavic Languages and Literature until late in his life. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980.  In 2006, the U.S. Mission in Poland developed a series of three new awards to recognize leaders who are reshaping the political, economic and social topography of Poland and the world in ways harmonious with abiding U.S. values and interests.

In selecting Adam Zagajewski as this year's recipient of this award, Ambassador Ashe noted, "No one exemplifies Milosz’s legacy better than Adam Zagajewski.  He is not only a gifted and prolific poet, but is a teacher and organizer of major cultural events.   He was a firm opponent of martial law, and in his work frequently expresses democratic ideals.  He is revered among the Polish public and is well-respected among American readers of poetry.

Adam Zagajewski's books have been published widely; he is very well-regarded in American literary circles, evidence by the large crowds drawn to his poetry readings in American cities.  Zagajewski is perhaps best known in the US for his poem, “Try to Praise the Mutilated World”, which was written before 9/11 but published in The New Yorker after September 11, 2001.  The poem was subsequently published all over the world and is still regarded today as an artistic work that embodied American sentiments after the attacks.  After 20 years of teaching creative writing at the University of Houston, Adam Zagajewski now teaches European Literature at the University of Chicago.  He has introduced Americans to Polish poetry and has been instrumental in bringing American poetry to Poland.  Thanks to his long presence at the University of Houston, Krakow has hosted four “Americans in Krakow” poetry festivals, a ten-day series of seminars, lectures, readings and discussions organized by Houston in cooperation with the U.S. Consulate in Krakow and Znak Publishing House.  These festivals have brought major American poets to Krakow.  Past festival participants have had a chance to listen to the Polish Nobel prize winners for whom this award is named:  Czeslaw Milosz.