Literra is a project that celebrates the power of literature as a bridge between cultures. In a world where words are reduced to slogans and memes, literature remains a unique space for deep understanding and exchange. Through translation workshops and meetings with writers, Literra seeks not only to promote Polish literature worldwide, but also to introduce the public to the challenges and wonders of translating literary texts.

This meeting is part of the Literra series, held in cities such as Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and Amsterdam, which fosters dialogue between writers, translators, and readers passionate about literature. It is an initiative of the Olga Tokarczuk Foundation, with the support of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and in collaboration with international institutions such as el Círculo de Bellas Artes.

For the past two decades, el Círculo acts as Casa Europa in Madrid, a pioneering space for debate and cultural exchange with a European perspective. Casa Europa It is a commitment to dialogue, transnational culture, diversity, freedom of expression and the continuous construction of what it means to be European in the 21st century. 

Translation workshop

The day will begin with a literary translation workshop about Łakome ( Insatiable , Temporal 2025), the narrative debut of Małgorzata Lebda, a work that addresses illness, life and death from a sensory and poetic perspective.

Guided by translators Abel Murcia and Katarzyna Mołoniewicz, participants will analyze excerpts from the novel, discuss various translation choices, and gain firsthand knowledge of the linguistic and cultural challenges involved in translating a literary text from Polish to Spanish. It will be a space for sharing ideas and reflecting on the artistic and cultural value of translation.

The workshop is open to Polish students, trainee translators, and anyone interested in the literary translation process. Places are limited; prior registration is required at secretariat@fundacjaolgitokarczuk.org.

Literary evening

In the afternoon, a literary event open to the public will take place, in which Małgorzata Lebda will speak with her translators, Abel Murcia and Katarzyna Mołoniewicz, about the novel Łakome ( Insatiable , Temporal 2025) and about translation as a collaborative creative process. The discussion, moderated by Eva Orúe—journalist, writer, and director of the Madrid Book Fair—will offer a closer look at Lebda's work, which explores the paradoxes of life, beauty, and death in a language that dissolves the boundaries between the human and the non-human.

This meeting underscores translation as an essential cultural act, capable of connecting literary traditions and situating Polish literature in diverse linguistic and geographical contexts.