The reception of Norwid in the years 1939-1956 (translated by Tadeusz Karłowicz)

Abstract

Przemysław Dakowicz’s book “Lecz ty spomnisz, wnuku…” Recepcja Norwida w latach 1939-1956. Rzecz o ludziach, książkach i historii [“But you will remember, grandson…”. Reception of Norwid in the years 1939-1956. About people, books and history] (Warszawa: IBL PAN, 2011) is concerned with the reception of Norwid in the years 1939-1956 and shows it against the background of historical events and ideological debates of those times. In the initial parts of the book the author writes about Norwid’s influence on the formation of patriotism in the young generation during World War II, among others he mentions Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński; he also writes about war-time editions of writings by the author of Vade-mecum. In the further part of the book we read about ideological manipulations that Norwid works underwent in Poland after the war, and about the disputes in which circles having different outlooks on the world took part. We also receive information about the functioning of Norwid’s works on the publishing market of that time, and about the reception of Norwid during “the thaw”. The next chapter is focused on the confrontation of two models of reading the author of Silence – Julian Przyboś’s and Mieczysław Jastrun’s. Dakowicz’s book not only shows the models of reception of Norwid in the years 1939-1956, but also presents changes in Polish culture occurring in many planes. The author gathers various traces of reception, inspirations, debates and polemics around Norwid. Because of its subject-matter the book may prove to be interesting not only for those studying literature, but also for ordinary readers interested in Polish culture and history.