Creation of Space in Selected Works by Olga Tokarczuk

Abstract

Travel constitutes a fundamental and recurring motif in the prose of Olga Tokarczuk. Notably, the Polish Nobel Laureate frequently approaches the theme in ways that depart from conventional representations. In her narratives, travel often unfolds not only across geographic space, but also within the psychological or imaginative realms of the protagonist and, by extension, the reader. This article investigates the concept of travel in Tokarczuk’s work, focusing particularly on the role of naming practices—whether through the intentional use of proper names or, conversely, through the deliberate omission of onyms—in both the original Polish texts and their English translations.