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Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical AntiquityBahdaj, Adam, Telemach w dżinsach [Telemachus in Jeans]. Okładkai ilustracje [Cover design and illustrations by] Aleksandra Kucharska–Cybuch. Kraków: Zielona Sowa, 2004 [ed. pr. 1979]. 216 pp.Genre: Novel.Summary: A 15–year–old boy MaciekŁańko starts a journey in search of his fatherWaldemar, who abandoned his family whenMaciek was three. The boy sets out fromJerzmanów, a small town near Warsaw, andgoes to Ełk in the North, where he expectsto find his father working at a constructionsite. On the train he meets Krzysiek (nicknameRomeo) looking for company. Romeoleft home and intends to travel to Sweden.This character appears many times in thenovel, always out of the blue and alwaysbringing trouble. Maciek does not find his father in Ełk and after a trip toOlecko and back to Jerzmanów, he learns that his father got a job in Gdańsk, atthe construction site of the Northern Port. Maciek meets more extraordinarypeople — young boys who left their homes to tour Poland; he makes friendswith Fuga who is keen on hitchhiking and Bufalo, an independent young manworking hard at a gas–station as a window cleaner. Maciek also meets a taxidriver Jojo, who looks after him and is always at his side whenever things gowrong. Eventually, Maciek instead of his father finds an uncle — his father’scousin, also called Waldemar — but refuses to give up his quest and beginsplanning another journey.Classical themes: The story set in modern times (the second half of the20 th century) alludes to Telemachus’ journey in search of his father Odysseus.Homer’s Odyssey is mentioned and quoted in the novel, when the main charactercompares himself to Telemachus. The protagonist also emphasizes his31