Marta Tomaszewska

1933 - 2009

A journalist by education, she was active as a poet, prose writer, and author of radio plays. She has published over forty books for children, adolescents and adults. Her first short story was published in 1956, in Walka Młodych. Her first book, Gdzie ten skarb? [Where’s the Treasure?], was published in 1966 (Nasza Księgarnia). Credited with the book Podróż do Krainy Om [Voyage to the Land of Om], she is regarded as precursor of Polish fantasy (WL, 1979). Her books have been translated into many languages, e.g. Zorro załóż okulary [Put on Glasses, Zorro] (Nasza Księgarnia, 1969) was published in French within the Bibliothèque International series and repeatedly republished. The novels Wyprawa Tapatików [The Tapatik Expedition] and Omijajcie wyspę Hula [Avoid the Island of Hula] have served as basis for theatre productions. Prize-winning books: Wielkolud z Jaskini Piratów albo Tajemnica czwartej ściany [Ogre of Pirates’ Cave or the Fourth Wall Mystery] (illustrated by Z. Rychlicki, Nasza Księgarnia, 1987), entered on the IBBY Honour List 1988; Królowa Niewidzialnych Jeźdźców [The Queen of Invisible Riders] (illustrated by E. Murawska, Nasza Księgarnia, 1988, entered on the Premio Europeo List of Honour; Tego lata w Burbelkowie [That Summer at Burbelkowo], the Kornel Makuszyński Literary Prize 2001; entered into the international BARFIE catalogue (Vienna, 2004). Prizes: 1981, the Prime Minister’s Prize for artistic production for children; 1986, honorary medal at the Biennial of Children’s Art, Poznań; Chevalier’s Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland; 1996, Order of the Smiles; 2006 – Medal of the IBBY Polish Section.

Selected foreign edition of Marta Tomaszewska's books

Books
That Summer at Burbelkowo (Tego lata w Burbelkowie)

fot. Maria Czernik