Thomas Pynchon releases new novel as Szczepan Twardoch addresses democracy remarks

American novelist Thomas Pynchon has released a new novel titled ‘Lewy bilet’ (Left Ticket), his first major work since 2013. The story, set in the 1930s, follows Hicks McTaggart, a former athlete turned private detective in Milwaukee, who is tasked with finding a missing heiress. The narrative spans locations from Chicago and Milwaukee to Budapest and Transylvania.

In Poland, author Szczepan Twardoch has addressed previous controversial remarks regarding democracy. During a television appearance, the Nike Literary Award winner defended his 2023 social media comments, in which he mocked intellectuals who had repeatedly warned of an imminent end to democracy in Poland. Twardoch explained that his remarks stemmed from frustration with the perceived exaggeration of political threats during the previous administration's tenure.