Jakub Żulczyk

Jakub Żulczyk is a Polish writer and screenwriter known for his work in crime fiction. His most notable work, Blinded by the Lights (2014), became a bestseller in Poland and was later adapted into a popular HBO series, bringing him widespread recognition.

Jakub Żulczyk was born on August 12, 1983, in Szczytno. He graduated in journalism from the Jagiellonian University and began his career writing for various literary magazines and newspapers, including Elle, Machina, Przekrój, and Onet.pl. He also worked as a co-host on cultural programs like "Redakcja kultury" on TVP2 and "Instytut prosto" on Roxy Radio.

He debuted with the novel Do Me Some Harm in 2006. In 2017, Żulczyk published The Hill of Dogs, which earned him the Warsaw Literary Award and the Wawrzyn of Warmia and Mazury. His work often explores dark and complex themes, as seen in his controversial novel Black Sun (2019).

Żulczyk has also been involved in the world of television, co-writing the HBO series Blinded by the Lights and the Canal Plus series The Teacher. He co-wrote the Warszawianka series for Sky Showtime and the Netflix series Feedback, based on his 2021 novel Informacja zwrotna.

The gritty realism and unflinching look at society's darker aspects characterize Ulczyk's style. His work has gained praise for its depth and narrative power. In his words, "I write to explore the human condition, to delve into the psyche and expose what lies beneath".

In addition to his literary achievements, Żulczyk has faced legal challenges. In 2021, he was charged under Poland's lèse-majesté law for writing derogatory comments about Polish President Andrzej Duda. The case was eventually dismissed in 2022 due to "negligible social damage caused by the act".

Żulczyk's bibliography includes Zrób mi jakąś krzywdę (2006), Radio Armageddon (2008), Instytut (2010), Zmorojewo (2011), Świątynia (2011), Blinded by the Lights (2014), The Hill of Dogs (2017), Black Sun (2019), and Informacja zwrotna (2021).

Jakub Żulczyk continues to live and work in Warsaw.

Photo credit: FB @jakub.zulczyk