On March 28, 2026, the Portraits of Emigration presented themselves for the first time amongst the Polish diaspora in Great Britain during the III London Book Fair, which took place in the welcoming premises of the White Eagle Club. We were present as both an exhibitor and a media patron.
The event brought together over 40 creators and organisations from the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Poland. The fair was intense and diverse, featuring everything from panel discussions and book launches to informal meetings, which often proved to be a very valuable part of the day.
A particularly important item on our agenda was the book launch of „Troglodyte”– a publication created by Andrzej Smolen, Róża Wigeland and our editorial colleague, Natalia Sobiecka. The panel dedicated to the book attracted many listeners.
The professional and warm atmosphere was the responsibility of the organising team: Dominika Caddick, Ada Johnson and Łukasz Pietraszkiewicz. Supported by a group of dedicated volunteers, they ensured that every participant – both exhibitor and visitor – felt noticed, looked after and most welcome. Thanks to their hard work, the event ran smoothly, and the exhibition space was buzzing with energy from the first to the last hour.
At the Fair, we managed to collect over 20 „voice business cards” – short recordings of participants talking about their work. This is extraordinary material that allows you to hear the diversity of the Polish diaspora literary community. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to interview everyone – we promise to make up for it during future editions of the Fair.
We invite you to watch a short film featuring interviews, which captures the atmosphere of the event better than any words.
