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Witold Gombrowicz and the “Polish October”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2017

David Brodsky
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Politically, the phrase “Polish October” refers to the installation of a new government in October 1956, along with the hopes this event inspired for a more liberalized regime. In cultural terms, however, the Polish October is analogous to the “Thaw” in the Soviet Union—but much warmer—and it includes a period of about two or three years, roughly from 1955 to 1958, during which intense debate, settling of accounts, and a reevaluation of tradition took place. Socialist Realism was discredited once and for all, and a burst of new publishing occurred. Drawers were emptied of manuscripts by already established writers as well as by those who were making belated debuts, while postwar West European literature appeared in translation. In addition, many forgotten or forbidden works of Polish interwar literature were reissued, and a selective program of publishing emigre works in Poland was initiated.

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Articles
Information
Slavic Review , Volume 39 , Issue 3 , September 1980 , pp. 459 - 475
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies. 1980

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References

1. Kazimierz, Wyka, “Tragiczność, drwina i realizm,” Twórczość, 1, no. 3 (October 1945): 101–19 Google Scholar.

2. Maria Jarczyńiska, “Problematyka i metoda tworcza w Ferdydurke” Twórczość, 1, no. 5 (December 1945): 126–30 Google Scholar.

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11. See Gombrowicz's letters to Iwaszkiewicz, May 7, 1948, September 3, 1948, November 12, 1948, January 10, 1949, February 7, 1949, June 16, 1949, October 25, 1949, December 12, 1949, January 28, 1950, and September 21, 1950, in “Listy Witolda Gombrowicza do Jarosfawa Iwaszkiewicza,” Twórczość, 25, no. 12 (December 1969): 8–29 Google Scholar.

12. Tadeusz, Kwiatkowski, “Kawa i Ferdydurke,” Przekrój, 4, no. 180 (September 19-25, 1948): 6 Google Scholar. The first edition of The Marriage was in Spanish, entitled El Casamiento (Buenos Aires: Edicion EAM, 1948).

13. Kazimierz, Wyka, Pogranicse powiesci: Proza polska w latach 1945-1948 (Cracow: M. Kot, 1948), pp. 7–35 Google Scholar.

14. Zygmunt Kaluzyński, “O literaturze ‘Wielkiego Konfliktu Pokoleń’ (Z powodu 'Paszkwilu na Meaulnesa’),” Twórczość, 5, no. 5 (May 1949): 86-103.

15. Jaroslaw Iwaszkiewicz, “Podróz do Patagonii: Poemat (W. Gombrowiczowi),” Twórczość, 6, no. 1 (January 1950): 81-97Google Scholar.

16. The charges against Gombrowicz appeared in P. [Seweryn Pollak], “Noty: Objasnieńla,” Kuznica, 5, no. 6 (February 12, 1950): 8Google Scholar. Iwaszkiewicz defended him in “Wyjasnienie do objasnieri,” Kuznica, 5, no. 8 (February 26, 1950): 8.

17. Gombrowicz letter to Iwaszkiewicz, January 28, 1950, in “Listy Witolda Gombrowicza,” p. 22.

18. Jotel [Jerzy Lovell], “Patriota a rebours ?,” Zycie Literackie, 4, no. 36 (September 12, 1954): 6Google Scholar. Trans-Atlantyk. Stub came out in 1953.

19. Zygmunt Lichniak, “Zapiski nieuzgodnionego (5): Kurtyna w gore, czyli o literaturze zblakanej,” Dzis i Jutro, 11, no. 47 (November 25, 1955): 7; and Zygmunt Lichniak, “Zapiski nieuzgodnionego (6): Spojrzenie z ukosa, ale nie zezem,” Dzis i Jutro, 12, no. 1 (January 8, 1956): 1-2. “Fragments from a Diary” appeared in Kultura, 9, no. 7-8 (93-94) (July-August 1955): 43-64. Also see volume 1 of the Diary, chapters 16 and 17. The Diary exists in several different forms. It first appeared serially in Kultura from 1953 until Gombrowicz's death. It was also published in book form, with extensive revisions, at four- and five-year intervals (see Witold, Gombrowicz, Dziennik: 1953-1956 [Paris: Instytut Literacki, 1957 Google Scholar], Dziennik: 1957-1961 [Paris: Instytut Literacki, 1962], and Dziennik: 1961- 1966. Operetka [Paris: Instytut Literacki, 1966]). In Gombrowicz's collected works, the pagination of the Diary is different (see Witold Gombrowicz, Dsieta zebrane, vols. 6-8 [Paris: Instytut Literacki, 1971]). Due to revisions in the book form of the Diary, I will henceforth cite the original serialized version. But since the latter is not readily available, while the former has two editions with different pagination, I will also place subsequent references to the book version of the Diary in the text with volume and chapter numbers.

20. Zbigniew Mitzner, “Wstgp,” in Zbigniew, Unilowski, Dwadziescia lat zycia (Warsaw: Panstwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1955, pp. 5–13 Google Scholar.

21. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragmenty z dziennika,” Kultura, 10, no. 4 (102) (April 1956): 53Google Scholar.

22. Ibid., p. 53. In the same diary fragment Gombrowicz referred to several other statements about him in Poland: two Radio “Kraj” bulletins (no dates given), and a speech by Vice-Premier Cyrankiewicz. Gombrowicz quoted parts of the speech, which apparently was given at a joint session of the Honorary Committees of the Copernican Year and the Renaissance Year, in “G§ba i twarz,” in Witold Gombrowicz, Dziela zebrane, vol. 11: Wspomnienia polskie (Paris: Instytut Literacki, 1977), pp. 9-16.

23. They even appeared in articles totally unrelated to Gombrowicz, as in one from a student newspaper (see Ehrlich, Stefan and Rybicka, Krystyna, “O ‘upupieniu’ w biologii,” Poprostu, 8, no. 7 [February 12, 1956]: 1 and 8Google Scholar).

24. Ludwik Flaszen, “Nowosci z dwudziestolecia: Ferdydurke Gombrowicza,” Zycie Literackie, 6, no. 28 (July 8, 1956): 5Google Scholar.

25. P., “Prztyczki i potyczki: Dla kogo?” Sztandar Mlodych, 12, no. 168 (July 14- 15, 1956): 4.

26. Ibid.

27. Jez. [Jerzy Kwiatkowski], “Mala kronika: Odezwal si? Dzidzius,” Zycie Literackie, 6, no.’ 31 (July 29, 1956): 12Google Scholar.

28. Przekroj, 12, no. 589 (July 22, 1956): 13-15. During October twelve reprints of Gombrowicz's work appeared: four from the “Fragments from a Diary,” five from Trans- Atlantic, and three from Ferdydurke. Only two were authorized by Gombrowicz and the editorial board of Kultura: the April 1956 diary fragment in Przeglqd Kulturalny, 5, no. 51- 52 (December 20, 1956-January 2, 1957): 3 and 7; and the March 1957 diary fragment in Dziennik Polski, 13, no. 60 (March 12, 1957): 4, and ibid., nos. 61, 62, 63 (March 13, 14, and 15, 1957): 3. Gombrowicz and the editors of Kultura protested unauthorized reprints (see Londynczyk, “Kronika angielska: Pisarze i ksizki,” Kultura, 10, no. 11 [109] [November 1956]: 105-6, and Witold Gombrowicz, “List do redakcji,” Kultura, 11, no. 3 [113] [March 1957]: 158). Their protests were futile in the face of Gombrowicz fever among editors in Poland, however. Gombrowicz had apparently intended one diary fragment for publication in Tworczosc, which was then edited by Iwaszkiewicz, but a series of misunderstandings prevented its appearance (see Iwaszkiewicz's introduction and Gombrowicz's letter of April 3, 1957, in “Jeszcze Gombrowicz,” Tworczosc, 26, no. 7-8 [July-August 1970]: 128-29Google Scholar).

29. See Gombrowicz's letter to Artur Sandauer, September 7, 1956, in “Dzieje klotliwej przyjazni,” Teksty, 4, no. 4 (1975): 171.

30. Ibid.

31. Ibid.

32. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Literatura emigracyjna a Kraj: Ankieta ‘Kultury, '” Kultura, 10, no. 12 (110) (December 1956): 51-52Google Scholar.

33. Zygmunt, Lichniak, “Raptularz literacki: Gembrowicz, czyli BAD2MY R02NT,” Kierunki, 1, no. 31 (December 16, 1956): 6-7Google Scholar.

34. Stanislaw Pigon, “W kr?gu Pana Jowialskiego: O ‘filozofii’ pana Jowialskiego,” in W pracowni Aleksandra Fredry (Warsaw: Panstwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1956), pp. 149-78.

35. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Trans-Atlantyk” (fragment), Slowo Tygodnia (Kielce), 7, no. 49 (December 8, 1956): 4Google Scholar; “Fragmenty z Dziennika,” Ziemia i Morze, 1, nos. 21, 22, and 23 (October 6, 13, and 20, 1956): 3; and “Fragmenty z Dziennika,” Przeglqd Kulturalny, 5, no. 51-52 (December 20, 1956-January 2, 1957): 3 and 7.

36. Inexplicably, the postwar edition of Ferdydurke omitted Bruno Schulz's illustrations for the prewar edition.

37. At least three theaters—two in Warsaw (Teatr Narodowy and Teatr Polski) and one in Cracow (Teatr im. Stozvackiego)—considered staging The Marriage in 1957. See Gombrowicz's letters to Sandauer, December 5, 1957, and January 11, 1958, in “Dzieje klotliwej przyjazni,” pp. 177 and 178, and his letter to Iwaszkiewicz, December 16, 1957, in “Jeszcze Gombrowicz,” p. 130.

38. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragment z Dziennika,” Zycie Literackie, 7, no. 41 (October 13, 1957): 1-2Google Scholar.

39. Witold Gombrowicz's letter to Jerzy Gombrowicz, January 23, 1957, in the Gombrowicz archive of the Institute of Literary Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IBL PAN) in Warsaw, MS. 90/3. I am grateful to the curator of the Gombrowicz collection, Edward Ruziewicz, for his kind permission to quote material from it.

40. This is Gombrowicz's polemic with Zbigniew Pedzinski, “Bezczeszcz? Gombrowicza,” Kronika, 2, no. 20 (October 16-31, 1956): 6.

41. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragmenty z dziennika,” Kultura, 11, no. 3 (113) (March 1957): 52Google Scholar.

42. These items are listed in Polska Bibliografia Literacka, ed. Stefan Vrtela-Wierczynski (Wroclaw, Lodz, and Warsaw, 1960-64), for the years 1956 through 1959.

43. Zygmunt, Kaluzynski, “Indywidualista i jego pedagodzy,” Trybuna Literacka, 2, no. 7 (February 16, 1958): 3Google Scholar.

44. Lipski, Jan Jozef, “Wznowienia (1918-1955),” in Rocznik Literacki: 1956 (Warsaw: Panstwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1957, p. 272 Google Scholar.

45. See Jan Jozef Lipski, “Ferdydurke czyli wojna skuteczna wydana mitom,” Nowa Kultura, 8, no. 12 (March 24, 1957): 3; Hanna Kucza, “Ksizka tygodnia: 2ywiol w walce z banalem,” Gazeta Poznanska, 10, no. 83 (April 6-7, 1957): 3; and Andrzej Kijowski,” ‘Lwem jestes tylko’ czyli o Ferdydurkizmie,” Tworczosc, 13, no. 5 (May 1957): 102-7.

46. See Lipski, “Ferdydurke,” and Wlodzimierz Mating, “Gombrowicz,” Zycie Literackie, 7, no. 32 (August 11, 1957): 3-4.

47. See Jan, Blonski, “Jeszcze raz o tym samym czyli sprawa Sandauera,” Przeglqd Kulturalny, 7, no. 5 (January 30-February 5, 1958): 4Google Scholar.

48. Maciag, “Gombrowicz,” p. 3.

49. Piotr Kuncewicz, “Nihilistyczna dojrzalosc Gombrowicza (Uwagi o Ferdydurke),” Kierunki, 2, no. 26 (June 30, 1957): 6-7.

50. Kijowski,” ‘Lwem jestes tylko, ’ ” pp. 105-6.

51. Szczepanski, Jan Jozef, “Drugie odkrycie Gombrowicza,” Tygodnik Powssechny, 11, no. 34 (September 1, 1957): 6-7Google Scholar.

52. Jan, Blonski, “Komentarz do Gombrowicza,” Przeglqd Kulturalny, 6, no. 29 (July 18- 25, 1957): 4Google Scholar.

53. “No Reduced Rates” is a literal rendering of the idiom bez taryfy ulgowej, which has several distinct connotations in Polish, among others “no cheapening,” “no concessions,” and “no leniency.” In the context of Sandauer's essay, it implies “no concession to secondrateness” or, by extension, “no lowering of standards.” Because these alternatives are either too vague or too clumsy, I have chosen a literal rendering of the title.

54. Artur, Sandauer, “Dramaturges polonais d'avant-garde,” Preuves, 7, no. 78 (August 1957): 42–46 Google Scholar; and Artur Sandauer, “A propos du Ferdydurke de Gombrowicz,” Temps modernes, 15, no. 162 (August 1959): 357-69. Both articles later appeared in Poland: Artur Sandauer, “Awangardowi dramatopisarze polscy,” Zycie Literackie, 7, no. 37 (September 15, 1957): 3 and 9; and Artur Sandauer, “Polska formula egzystencjalizmu,” Wspolcsesnosc, 4, no. 18 (September 16-30, 1959): 2.

55. The link between Gombrowicz and Rabelais's marketplace humor is made in Artur Sandauer, “Bez taryfy ulgowej (IV): Poczatek, Swietnosc i Upadek Rodziny Mlodziakow, Esej krytyczny osnuty na tie II czesci Ferdydurke Gombrowicza,” Polityka, 2, no. 43 (October 25, 1958): 7. The notion of Gombrowicz as a builder of a plebeian culture is implied in Sandauer, “Polska formula,” p. 2. Needless to say, the latter idea did not appeal to Gombrowicz.

56. Stanistaw Dygat, “Rozmyslania przy goleniu,” Przeglqd Kulturalny, 7, no. 3 (January 16-22, 1958): 12.

57. Gombrowicz, letter of April 29, 1957, in “Teatr-Teatr-Teatr—Dlaczego nie w Kielcach?,” Slozvo Tygodnia, 8, no. 29 (July 27, 1957): 1.

58. Gombrowicz, letter of August 15, 1957, in Witold Gombrowicz, “W dyskusji o Slubie Gombrowicza: Pisze autor,” Stowo Tygodnia, 8, no. 35 (September 7, 1957): 1.

59. At the end of 1957, Gombrowicz wrote to both Sandauer and Iwaszkiewicz, requesting that they start a press campaign for the staging of The Marriage (see his letter to Sandauer, December 5, 1957, in “Dzieje klotliwej przyjazni,” p. 177; and his letter to Iwaszkiewicz, December 16, 1957, in “Jeszcze Gombrowicz,” p. 130). The Marriage was first staged in Poland by a student theatrical company from the Gliwice Polytechnical Institute and was directed by Jerzy Jarocki, a professional from Cracow. Its premiere took place in April 1960 at a festival of student theaters and was considered the best performance at the festival (see M. Kos[inska], “Przed festiwalem zespolow studenckich: Pochwala ambicji,” Zycie Warszawy, 17, no. 100 [April 27, I960]: 3; and Maria Podolska, “Po premierze Teatru Studenckiego przy Politechnice Slskiej: Stub i sprawy poslubne,” Trybuna Robotnicsa, 1960, no. 97, p. 3). The first professional production of The Marriage in Poland did not occur until April 1974, when Warsaw's Dramatic Theater staged it under the direction of Jarocki (see WIDZ, “Kronika kulturalna: Stub w Warszawie,” Kultura, 28, no. 7-8 [322-23] [July-August 1974]: 201-4; and Marta Fik, “Theatrical Events: ‘The Marriage’ by Witold Gombrowicz,” Theater in Poland, 16, no. 9 [193] [September 1974]: 13-24Google Scholar).

60. Witold, Zechenter, “Z nowych parodii: Witold Gombrowicz, Transatlantyk” (fragment), Trybuna Literacka, 2, no. 14 (April 6, 1958): 4Google Scholar; reprinted in Dziennik Polski, 15, no. 15 (January 18-19, 1959): 7; in Zycie Literackie, 10, no. 13 (March 27, 1960): 12; and in Witold, Zechenter, Parodie, 2nd ed. (Cracow: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1960Google Scholar).

61. Izabella Czajka-Stachowicz, “Buenos Aires: Korespondencja wlasna Przekroju,” Prsekroj, 14, no. 689 (June 22, 1958): 17-18Google Scholar, and ibid., no. 690 (June 29, 1958): 15-16.

62. Aniela, Mlodziakowa, “Listy do redakcji: Miodziak Mlodziakowi nierowny,” Polityka, 2, no. 48 (November 29, 1958)Google Scholar: 1. The letter was probably a joke on the part of the editors.

63. Stefan, Kisielewski, “Gwozdzie w mozgu: O Gombrowiczu zalosnym i o Hannie Malewskiej w Londynie,” Tygodnik Powszechny, 11, no. 13 (March 31, 1957): 12Google Scholar.

64. Stefan, Kisielewski, “Gwozdzie w mozgu: Sandauer i Gombrowicz czyli zmowa nieobecnych,” Tygodnik Powszechny, 12, no. 13 (March 30, 1958): 8Google Scholar.

65. Reported by Gombrowicz in the Diary (see Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragmenty z dziennika,” Kultura, 13, no. 6 [140] [June 1959]: 32-33Google Scholar; and in volume 2, chapter 11 of the Diary).

66. See B. Or., “Nad ksiakami Witolda Gombrowicza,” Radio i Swiat, 13, no. 2 (January 13, 1957)Google Scholar: 4. Sandauer's lecture was broadcast on January 15 at 8 p.m.

67. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragmenty z dziennika,” Kultura, 12, no. 3 (125) (March 1958): 35Google Scholar.

68. Ibid., pp. 35-36.

69. The statement was made at a public lecture in Cracow in March 1958, and was transcribed and published without Sandauer's permission in Artur, Sandauer, “Rozmyslania o literaturze,” Dziennik Polski, 14, no. 64 (March 16-17, 1958Google Scholar): 5. See also Artur, Sandauer, “Do redakcji: Pod adresem Kisiela,” Tygodnik Powsscchny, 12, no. 15 (April 13, 1958): 7Google Scholar.

70. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragmenty z dziennika,” Kultura, 12, no. 6 (128) (June 1958): 32Google Scholar.

71. The critic in question is Jacek Bocheriski, in his “Ksizka sposrod ksizek: O Gombrowiczu wieszczu narodowym (tylko dla tych co czytali Trans-Atlantyk),” in Prseglqd Kulturalny, 7, no. 2 (March 13-19, 1958): 6-7.

72. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragmenty z dziennika,” Kultura, 12, no. 10 (132) (October 1958): 19Google Scholar.

73. Stefan, Kisielewski, “Gwozdzie w mozgu: Skoki w boki,” Tygodnik Powssechny, 12, no. 49 (December 7, 1958): 8Google Scholar.

74. Zbigniew, Grabowski, “List do redakcji,” Kultura, 12, no. 12 (134) (December 19S8): 156-58Google Scholar.

75. Witold, Gombrowicz, “List do redakcji,” Kultura, 13, no. 3 (137) (March 1959): 149-51Google Scholar.

76. Ibid., p. 151.

77. Stefan, Kisielewski, “List do redakcji,” Kultura, 13, no. 4 (138) (April 1959): 157-58Google Scholar.

78. Zbigniew, Grabowski, “List do redakcji,” Kultura, 13, no. 5 (139) (May 1959): 154-56Google Scholar.

79. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragmenty z dziennika,” Kultura, 13, no. 6 (140) (June 1959): 33Google Scholar.

80. Andrzej Falkiewicz, “Problematyka Slubu Gombrowicza,” Dialog, 4, no. 2 (34) (February 1959): 77-94.

81. Artur, Sandauer, Bez taryfy ulgowej (Warsaw: Czytelnik, 1959Google Scholar). Polemics about the book included: Alicja Lisiecka, “Jubileusz krytyki (I): ‘Obiit Ferdydurke, Natus est Sandauerus, '” Nowa Kultura, 10, no. 49 (December 7, 1959): 3-4; Andrzej Stawar, “Nieporozumienia taryfowe,” Nowa Kultura, 11, no. 30 (July 24, 1960): 1 and 9; Andrzej Stawar, “Nieporozumienia historyczne,” Noiva Kultura, 11, no. 32 (August 7, 1960): 3 and 6; and Andrzej Stawar, “Mtodziakowie i post powicze,” Nowa Kultura, 11, no. 33 (August 14, 1960): 3 and 5. Stawar's articles were republished in his book, Andrzej, Stawar, O Brsozowskim (Warsaw: Czytelnik, 1961, pp. 211–42 Google Scholar. Sandauer replied to his critics in Artur Sandauer, “Porozumienia i nieporozumienia,” Nowa Kultura, 11, no. 40 (October 2, 1960): 3 and 9. His reply was reprinted in Artur, Sandauer, Dla kazdego cos przykrego (Cracow: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1966, pp. 349–57 Google Scholar.

82. Witold, Gombrowicz, “Fragmenty z dziennika,” Kultura, 14, no. 3 (149) (March 1960): 35Google Scholar.

83. Ibid., p. 34.

84. Ibid., p. 36.

85. Quality, however, was not affected by quantity. Several of the best studies of Gombrowicz were published in this period, such as Artur, Sandauer, “Witold Gombrowicz: Czlowiek i pisarz,” Kultura (Warsaw), 3, no. 42 (October 17, 1965): 3–4 Google Scholar, and no. 43 (October 24, 1965): 3 and 9; Andrzej Mencwel, “Antygroteska Gombrowicza: Ferdydurke i teoretyczne problemy jej interpretacji,” in A. Brodzka and Z. Zabicki, eds., Z problemow literatury polskiej XX wieku, vol. 2: Literatura miedzywojenna (Warsaw: Panstwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1965, pp. 237–65 Google Scholar; Zdzislaw Lapiriski, “Slub w kosciele ludzkim (O kategoriach interakcyjnych u Gombrowicza),” Tworcgosc, 22, no. 9 (September 1966): 93-100.

86. It was included in a book under a different title, Dla kazdego cos przykrego.

87. Julian, Przybos, “Ksiazka miesiaca: Racja Sandauera,” lycie Warszawy, 23, no. 230 (September 24, 1966): 3Google Scholar.

88. For example, Andrzej Kijowski, “Kategorie Gombrowicza,” Tworczosc, 27, no. 11 (November 1971): 62-88; Jan Blonski, “O Gombrowiczu,” Miesigcznik Literacki, 5, no. 8 (August 1970): 42-50; and Jan Blonski, “Gombrowicz a ethos szlachecki,” Teksty, 3, no. 4 (16) (1974): 117-36.

89. By “new generation” I mean critics, regardless of age, who had never previously written about Gombrowicz. Unlike the period of the Polish October, when most publications about him were reviews or short journalistic pieces, the majority of pieces in the 1970s have been critical or scholarly articles. Since 1970 well over eighty articles have been published, fifty of which are substantial. Many of the substantial articles can be found in the selected bibliography of Ewa Thompson's Witold Gombrowicz (Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1979), pp. 163-68. See also Polska Bibliografia Literacka for these years.

90. Jerzy, Jarzgbski, “Klucze do Gombrowicza,” Magazyn Kulturalny (Cracow), 7, no. 1 (25) (1978): 23Google Scholar.

91. Gombrowicz, “List do ferdydurkistow,” p. 4.