SOURCE: "'Everything comes from what I said at the beginning, from this territory': An Interview with Tadeusz Konwicki," in Review of Contemporary Fiction, Vol. XIV, No. 3, Fall, 1994, pp. 112-23.

In the following interview, originally conducted on January 7, 1991, Konwicki discusses geographical influences of his native territory on his writings and thought, his storytelling methods, the significance of animal symbolism in his works, the poetic quality of his prose, and his views on women.

[Dorota Sobieska:] I have plenty of questions but would prefer this to be more of a conversation.

[Tadeusz Konwicki:] Yes, but I have to have something to start with, and the best questions are silly because they give one a chance to say something. Clever questions always contain the answers themselves. Those very ambitious Polish scholars ask a question which goes on for ten minutes …

To which you answer "Yes" or "No."

That's right. Or, trying...