Traditionally, at the beginning of September Gazeta Wyborcza and the Agora Foundation announced the list of strict finalists for the „Nike” Literary Award. Among the seven selected books was the historical reportage „Gdynia Promised. The city, modernism, modernization 1920-1939” by Grzegorz Piątek! The historian and architecture critic received the Polityka Passport for the book this year, and whether it will win the „Nike”, we will find out on October 1 at a gala in the building of the University Library in Warsaw.
This is Grzegorz Piątek's second nomination for the „Nike” award—in 2021, his book The Best City in the World. Warsaw in Reconstruction 1944-1949 was among the group of seven finalists. This year, his historical reportage "Gdynia Promised. City, Modernism, Modernization 1920- 1939," which you can read a review of in Anna Cymer's article, The Myth of the White City.
7 finalists
Funded by Gazeta Wyborcza and the Agora Foundation, the „Nike” Literary Award has been given since 1997, honoring the best book written in any literary genre and published in the year preceding the award.
The winner / laureate of the 27th edition of the award will be chosen by a jury chaired by Inga Iwasiów and composed of Marek Beylin, Przemysław Czapliński, Justyna Jaworska, Tadeusz Nyczek, Masza Potocka, Krzysztof Siwczyk, Maria Topczewska, Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz.
The list of finalists announced on September 1 included:
- Wiktoria Bieżuńska—novel "Passing through the threshold, I will whistle" (Cyranka Publishing House),
- Anna Bikont—reportage „Price. In search of Jewish children after the war” (Czarne Publishing House),
- Mateusz Górniak—novel „Trash Story” (Korporacja Ha!art),
- Grzegorz Piątek—"Gdynia Promised. City, Modernism, Modernization 1920-1939" (W.A.B. Publishing House),
- Zyta Rudzka—novel „Ten się śmieje, kto ma zęby” (W.A.B. Publishing House),
- Piotr Sommer—poetry „Years of Practice” (WBPCiAK Publishing House),
- Ilona Wiśniewska—reportage „Migot. From the edge of Greenland” (Czarne Publishing House).
In addition to the grand prize, an honorable mention will be awarded—the Readers' Nike, for which voting is now underway. You can cast your vote until September 24, 2023 at 11:59 pm on the Gazeta Wyborcza website.
We would like to remind you that Grzegorz Piątek's book „The Best City in the World” (nominated for Nike in 2021) has become the subject of an opera being prepared by Sinfonia Varsovia in cooperation with the International Festival of Contemporary Music „Warsaw Autumn,” the Grand Theater—National Opera and the Museum of Warsaw. As part of a competition procedure, libretto author Beniamin Bukowski was selected, and composer Cezary Duchnowski will be responsible for the musical setting. The premiere is scheduled for the opening of the 2025/26 season at the Grand Theater—National Opera.
