Mariusz Szczygiel in Mikołow

On 25 October (Sunday) at 4 p.m. we invite you to the Mikołów Municipal Library for a meeting with Mariusz Szczygl entitled “Czech culture - my heavenly cane”. The event is part of the 12th Festival of Jazz & Literature 2026. Tickets for PLN 39 can be purchased from August 10 through our website and from September 1 at the MDK Box Office.

Mariusz Szczygieł is one of the most respected Polish reporters, a master of stories about the Czech Republic, a columnist, a non-fiction writer. His books have been published in 21 countries. Winner of the 2009 European Book Award for “Gottland”, which also won Nike Readers. Winner of the double Nike Literary Award 2019 for “None” (in the selection of the jury and readers). Since 1990 he has been associated with “Gazeta Wyborcza”. Co-founder of the bookshop and cafe Wrzenie and the publishing house “Evidence for Existence”. Czechophilus. He lives in Warsaw, but as he says - his soul lives in Prague. Author of the bestselling “Personal Guide to Prague”.

The meeting with Mariusz Szczygl will take the form of a “one-man show”. The author will present surprising phenomena in Czech culture for Poles - he will present Czech monuments, magazine covers, film posters, houses, objects, photographs of customs. In a word - everything that makes up popular and higher culture in the Czech Republic. It will bring viewers closer to the origins of this culture, and especially its celebration of laughter. The whole will be decorated with anecdotes, stories about the reporter's adventures in the Czech Republic. During the evening you will be able to hear, among others: why does St. Wenceslas ride on a dead horse? ; why can the state flag be shown on a woman's womb? ; why in the Czech anthem one does not march, but lies? ; how is the contest for the Czech most similar to Jesus? ; why does beer stop revolutions? ; what do the most beautiful bushes of Czech marijuana look like? ; why do Czechs elevate the ordinary to the rank of art? ; does the cane always have to be heavenly?

Mariusz Szczygieł will draw the audience into the fascinating cultural world of our southern neighbours. The meeting will be full of humor and literary energy.