A scientific meeting will take place on November 16, 2026, at the University Campus of Saint-Martin-d'Hères, focusing on the reception of Perrault's Tales in Poland. The event will highlight the first complete translation of these tales into Polish, by Anita Całek, Professor of Comparative Literature at Jagiellonian University in Krakow.
Although famous in Poland through numerous adaptations, Perrault's Tales were until recently little known in their entirety, lacking a complete translation and scholarly edition. The translation by Sztepan Całek, published last year after ten years of work, aims to render the original poetry in verse and offer an accessible reading, while preserving the style and historical distance of the work.
This paradoxical situation raises questions about the absence of a Polish translation until 2025, potentially explained by the mastery of French by Polish elites in past centuries, or by stylistic and aesthetic issues dating back to the 17th century. Hypotheses of ideological resistance to Perrault's satirical work are also discussed.
The meeting, moderated by Agnès Cousson, will explore these questions. Anita Całek will present the scholarly edition of the Polish translation, while Stepan Całek (the translator) and Barbara Kaczyńska-Dudek, a specialist in children's literature, will participate online.
Due to the small size of the room, remote participation via the BigBlueButton link is encouraged. The event will take place from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM in Building Stendhal C, Room C307, at 1180 rue des Universités.
