October Central European Book Club

7 October 2025, 18.00

We invite you to another meeting of the Central European Book Club, which will take place on 7 October at 18.00. The topic of discussion will be the book “Kapo” by Serbian author Aleksandar Tišma. This shocking story about the atrocities of World War II will provide an opportunity to discuss guilt and forgiveness, violence and the desire to live. The discussion will be moderated by Aleksandra Wojtaszek.

“Kapo” by Serbian writer Aleksandar Tišma is a story about the limits of humanity tested in the most extreme conditions. The main character, a Yugoslav Jew, comes across a newspaper article after the war that reopens old wounds, transporting him back to the concentration camps in Jasenovac and Auschwitz. Viljko survived, but at a huge price: he became not only a victim, but also a perpetrator. Many years after the war, he sets out in search of Helena Lifka, a Jewish woman he raped in the camp – for only she can understand the weight of his story, woven from fear and the will to live. This shocking and outstanding novel is now available in Polish after more than half a century, thanks to the wonderful translation by Magdalena Petryńska and the ArtRage publishing house.

“Kapo” concludes the so-called Jewish trilogy, which consists of “Knjiga o Blamu” (1972, “The Book of Blam”, Polish edition 1978) and “Upotreba čoveka” (“The Use of Man”, 1976).

Aleksandar Tišma (1924–2003) – writer, son of a Serb and a Hungarian-speaking Jew. Author of novels, short stories and reportage. He wrote in Serbian, although his first language was Hungarian. He was the editor of the magazine of the oldest Serbian institution, Matica Srpska. He made his debut as a poet, and his first short story was published in 1950. In his most important books, he addressed the subject of war and experiences related to the Holocaust. These publications brought him international fame and translations into 17 languages. He was the recipient of numerous literary awards and the French National Order of Merit (1996).

Aleksandar Tišma, “Kapo”, translated by Magdalena Petryńska, published by Art Rage 2025.

Hosted by: Aleksandra Wojtaszek – Balkanist, literary scholar, translator and expert on Central European culture. Author of the book “Fjaka. Sezon na Chorwację”, scientific monograph ”Topographies of imaginary spaces. Serbian and Croatian speculative fiction” and texts in HERITO magazine and “Tygodnik Powszechny”.

The meeting will be held in Polish.

Free admission

We invite you to join us for a reading and discussion in the heart of Krakow, among people who believe that books unite Central Europe.