Tomasz Różycki, a poet, essayist, lecturer at the Institute of Literature Sciences of the University of Opole was awarded in the competition Ambassador of New Europe for 2020 for his book “Trial by Fire. Erroneous Cartography of Europe”.

The Ambassador of New Europe award is granted for the best publications in Polish, which present historical processes or current experiences of Europeans, observed from the level of social relations and civic activity, taking place in the areas of culture, education, politics and economy in an innovative way. The competition is organized by the European Solidarity Center, the Jan Nowak Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe in Wrocław.

In the case of Tomasz Różycki, the jury appreciated the author’s sensitivity, which is not a sign of weakness but of courage. Instead of giving simple answers, he poses fundamental questions about the identity of contemporary Europe, and his considerations remain remarkably up-to-date.