In this episode, we are joined by Prof Wojciech Kruszewski, a philologist and editor at The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland. Prof Kruszewski is the Head of the Chair of Textology and Edition and has been leading the Philomath's Archive - Digital Edition research group since 2019. His notable editorial work includes a four-volume selection of Polish poet Anna Kamieńska’s works (2020) and a critical edition of Adam Mickiewicz's drama Dziady (2022).

We delve into the field of textology, exploring how it relates to genetic criticism and how both can enhance our understanding of major authors and their creative processes. Prof Kruszewski shares insights on how these methods can influence the way we evaluate literary works and prizes, such as the Nobel Prize in Literature. We also discuss whether textology and genetic criticism can assess the fairness of literary awards and how these fields might contribute to studying the Nobel’s focus on an author’s “genius” and lifetime achievement.