Literatura ze środka Europy · Marcin Piotrowski

Denis Johnson - Sny o pociągach (2002 | 2011)

·20 min·2 clips

Marcin Piotrowski explores Denis Johnson's 'Dreams about Trains,' a short novel revealing an unknown America of loggers and railroads.

The episode opens with host Marcin Piotrowski introducing 'Dreams about Trains' by American author Denis Johnson, translated by Tomasz Gałązka and published in Poland in 2021. Piotrowski notes the book's origin as a longer story in The Paris Review and its compact 100-page length. He compares it to Johnson's earlier work 'Angels,' which he read in fall 2025, emphasizing 'Dreams' as a later, different piece. The host describes the protagonist Robert Greiner, a logger and wagon driver whose life spans from the late 19th century to 1968. A key structural point is that Johnson discloses Greiner's death at age 80 early on, which Piotrowski appreciates for removing suspense and allowing a focus on life's journey. The narrative is non-chronological, mixing memories, dreams, and events across Greiner's life. Piotrowski explores the setting as an unknown America of the early 20th century, where life resembles the 19th century with manual labor, railroads built simply, and wild nature. He contrasts this with familiar images of cities like New York or Chicago, noting how little we know about Western loggers' appearances and daily lives. Elements like the Ford Model T and an aeroplan appear, but the America depicted is brutal, with exploitation and lack of safety nets. The host highlights a scene where loggers work intensely post-World War I, showing ongoing wartime mentality. Nature plays a huge role, with forests, fire, and animals like dogs and wolves central to the story. Piotrowski singles out a wolf scene as masterful, blending realism with a desire for the supernatural. He metaphorically compares 'Angels' to a samurai sword—dangerous and complex—and 'Dreams' to an East Asian clay teapot—simple, pure, and beautifully crafted through minimalism. The translation by Gałązka is praised for subtly archaizing language to reflect the characters' simplicity. Piotrowski recommends the book as warmer and more accessible than 'Angels,' reflecting Johnson's older, reflective perspective. He concludes by noting his recent enjoyment of short forms and promising future episodes on Johnson's work.

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