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Jan Parandowski (11 May 1895 – 26 September 1978) was a Polish writer, essayist, and translator. Best known for his works relating to
classical antiquity
Classical antiquity, also known as the classical era, classical period, classical age, or simply antiquity, is the period of cultural History of Europe, European history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD comprising the inter ...
, he was also the president of the Polish
PEN Club between 1933 and 1978, with a break during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. He was born in
Lwów, (then
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
, now
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
) and died in
Warsaw
Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...
.
Biography
Jan Parandowski graduated from Jan Długosz High School, in
Lemberg
Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
,
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
(now
Lviv
Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
,
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
). In 1913 he began his studies at the
University of Lemberg, in the philosophy department. There he studied philosophy, classical
philology
Philology () is the study of language in Oral tradition, oral and writing, written historical sources. It is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics with strong ties to etymology. Philology is also de ...
,
archeology
Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscapes. Archaeolo ...
,
art history
Art history is the study of Work of art, artistic works made throughout human history. Among other topics, it studies art’s formal qualities, its impact on societies and cultures, and how artistic styles have changed throughout history.
Tradit ...
, and
Polish literature. His studies were interrupted by
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, during which he was interned in Russia, and consequently taught at schools in
Voronezh
Voronezh ( ; , ) is a city and the administrative centre of Voronezh Oblast in southwestern Russia straddling the Voronezh River, located from where it flows into the Don River. The city sits on the Southeastern Railway, which connects wes ...
and
Saratov
Saratov ( , ; , ) is the largest types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and administrative center of Saratov Oblast, Russia, and a major port on the Volga River. Saratov had a population of 901,361, making it the List of cities and tow ...
. From 1920 he continued his studies, and in 1923 received his master's degree in classical philology and archeology.
From 1922 to 1924 he was the literary chief for publisher Alfred Altenberg, for whom he organized a series of translations of classical works and a further "great writers" series. During this time, he was an oft correspondent for a number of Polish newspapers and magazines, including the ''Morning Gazette'', the ''Illustrated Weekly'', the ''Literary News'', and the weekly, ''Rainbow''. Between 1924 and 1926 he travelled to Greece, France, and Italy. From 1929 he lived in Warsaw, where at first he was an editor for the monthly, ''Warsaw Diary''. In 1930 he became a member of the Polish PEN Club, and in 1933, its president.
At the
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XI Olympiad () and officially branded as Berlin 1936, were an international multi-sport event held from 1 to 16 August 1936 in Berlin, then capital of Nazi Germany. Berlin won the bid to ...
in Berlin, he received a
bronze medal
A bronze medal in sports and other similar areas involving competition is a medal made of bronze awarded to the third-place finisher of contests or competitions such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The outright winner receives ...
for his book, ''The Olympic Discus'', and in 1937 he received the Polish Literary Academy's "Gold Laurels" for outstanding literary achievement. Between 1937 and 1938 he was an editor for the state publishing house for school books, and produced the educational series, ''Great People''. After World War II began, he participated in the cultural underground. The flames of the
Warsaw uprising
The Warsaw Uprising (; ), sometimes referred to as the August Uprising (), or the Battle of Warsaw, was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance movement in World War II, Polish underground resistance to liberate Warsaw from ...
consumed his literary archives and his entire unpublished works.
During the years 1945 – 1950 he took over the Department of Classical Antiquity, then the Department of Comparative Literature at the
Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). He became a regular member of Warszawskie Towarzystwo Naukowe (loosely translated, Warsaw Association of Sciences), worked with publications such as the ''
Universal Weekly'', ''Meander'', ''Creation'', and renewed his activities as chairman of the Polish PEN Club. In 1948 he organized a World Congress of Intellectuals in
Wrocław
Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...
, after which he returned to live in Warsaw.
In 1958, Jan Parandowski organized an International Translators Convention in Warsaw, and in 1962 he became the vice-president of International PEN. In 1964 he received the Polish State Award of the First Degree, and in the same year he was a signatory to the
Letter of 34 scholars and writers in defense of
freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The rights, right to freedom of expression has been r ...
. In 1975 he was honoured for his lifetime achievement by
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a media organization broadcasting news and analyses in 27 languages to 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Headquartered in Prague since 1995, RFE/RL ...
. In 1976 he received an
honorary doctorate
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...
in
Christian Philosophy
Christian philosophy includes all philosophy carried out by Christians, or in relation to the religion of Christianity.
Christian philosophy emerged with the aim of reconciling science and faith, starting from natural rational explanations wit ...
from the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL).
In 1988 a prize was founded in his honour, the Jan Parandowski prize, and is awarded annually by the Polish PEN Club to exemplary historical writers.
His granddaughter is the actress
Joanna Szczepkowska.
Works
As a literary figure, Parandowski began writing in Lwow in 1913, though he came to experience international prominence after his much cited ''Mythology'' in 1924. His knowledge, crisp and engaging writing style, and ability to tackle the most controversial subjects contributed greatly to Parandowski's popularity. In Poland his works have become a staple of classical study in schools of all levels.
Selected bibliography
*(1919) ''Bolshevism and Bolsheviks in Russia'' by Jan Parandowski first published
Ivano-Frankivsk
Ivano-Frankivsk (, ), formerly Stanyslaviv, Stanislav and Stanisławów, is a city in western Ukraine. It serves as the administrative centre of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast as well as Ivano-Frankivsk Raion within the oblast. Ivano-Frankivsk also host ...
, in Polish: ''Bolszewizm i bolszewicy w Rosji'',
1919, and later: London
1996
1996 was designated as:
* International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
Events January
* January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
Puls Publications Ltd. ()
*(1924) ''Mitologia/Mythology''
*(1924) ''Eros na Olimpie''
*(1927) ''Dwie wiosny''
*(1927) ''Wojna trojańska/The Trojan War''
*(1930) ''Król życia''
*(1933) ''Dysk olimpijski/The Olympic Discus''
*(1934) ''Odwiedziny i spotkania''
*(1935) ''Przygody Odyseusza''
*(1936) ''Niebo w płomieniach''
*(1949) ''Godzina śródziemnomorska''
*(1953) ''Zegar słoneczny''
*(1955) ''Pisma wybrane''
*(1956) ''Petrarka''
*(1957) ''Dzieła wybrane tom 1–3''
*(1958) ''Z antycznego świata''
*(1959) ''Mój Rzym''
*(1961) ''Powrót do życia''
*(1967) ''Akacja''
Translations
*(1924) ''Historia świata Wellsa/
The Outline of History by
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, hist ...
''
*(1925) ''Dafnis i Chloe/
Daphnis and Chloe''
*(1935) ''Życie Karola Wielkiego Einharda''
*(1951) ''Wojna domowa Juliusza Cezara/Civil Wars by
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...
''
*(1953) ''Odyseja Homera/
Homer's Odyssey''
Travel Memoirs
*(1924) ''Rzym czarodziejski''
*(1927) ''Dwie wiosny''
*(1958) ''Podróże literackie''
Awards and decorations
*

Commander's Cross with Star of
Order of Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...
(1959)
*

Commander's Cross of
Order of Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...
(16 July 1954)
*

Officer's Cross of
Order of Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...
(9 November 1931)
*

Golden Academic Laurel (7 November 1936)
*

Commander of
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Order of Arts and Letters () is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant ...
(France, 1973)
[ Stanisław Kuniczak. O lwowianach, Lwowie, Małopolsce Wschodniej i Wołyniu. Komandoria dla Parandowskiego. „Biuletyn”. Nr 24, s. 57, czerwiec 1973. Koło Lwowian w Londynie.]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parandowski, Jan
1895 births
1978 deaths
Writers from Lviv
Burials at Powązki Cemetery
Polish historical novelists
Polish male novelists
Olympic bronze medalists in art competitions
Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature
20th-century Polish novelists
Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics
20th-century Polish male writers
Translators of Homer
Art competitors at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Recipients of the State Award Badge (Poland)