Jarosław Leon Iwaszkiewicz (; also known under his literary pseudonym Eleuter; 20 February 1894 – 2 March 1980), was a Polish

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

, essayist,

dramatist A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between characters and is intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. Ben Jonson coined the term "playwri ...

and

translator Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. The English language draws a terminological distinction (which does not exist in every language) between ''trans ...

.Bartłomiej Szleszyński, Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. 2003 Culture.pl
Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz
He is recognized for his literary achievements, beginning with poetry and prose written after

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 ...

. After 1989, he was often presented as a political opportunist during his mature years lived in communist Poland, where he held high offices (participated in the slander of Polish

expatriate An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...

s, literary and other figures who after

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 ...

remained in the West). He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times. In 1988, he was recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations for his role in sheltering

Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

during World War II.

Life and career

Iwaszkiewicz was born in Kalnyk in Kiev Governorate of the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

(now

Vinnytsia Oblast Vinnytsia Oblast (, ), also referred to as Vinnychchyna (), is an oblasts of Ukraine, oblast in central Ukraine. Its capital city, administrative center is Vinnytsia. The oblast has a population of History Vinnytsia Oblast, first established on ...

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 ...

). After the death of his father (an accountant), he and his mother lived 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 ...

in 1902–1904, and then moved back to Kiev Governorate. He graduated from a secondary school in

Kiev Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...

in 1912 and enrolled at the Law Faculty of Kiev University. In 1914, he travelled in

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

and

North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

with his friend and distant cousin Karol Szymanowski, a composer for whose opera '' King Roger'' he later provided the libretto. After World War I, in October 1918 Iwaszkiewicz came to Warsaw, where he joined a group of young artists associated with the ''Pro Arte et Studio'' magazine. He had his public debut as a poet at the ''Pod Picadorem'' café on 29 November. With Julian Tuwim and Antoni Słonimski, he founded the '' Skamander'' group of experimental poets in 1919.Radosław Romaniuk (13 April 2015)
Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz i początki Skamandra.
('Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz and the beginnings of Skamander'), Histmag.org. From ''Inne życie. Biografia Jarosława Iwaszkiewicza. T.1'' ('The other life. Biography of Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz', vol.1) by Radosław Romaniuk. Iskry 2012. . He was appointed to be secretary of Maciej Rataj,

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

of the ''

Sejm The Sejm (), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (), is the lower house of the bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of the Third Polish Republic since the Polish People' ...

'' of the

Second Polish Republic The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 7 October 1918 and 6 October 1939. The state was established in the final stage of World War I ...

and served in that capacity in 1923–1925. Iwaszkiewicz worked for a magazine called ''Wiadomości Literackie'' ('The Literary News') in 1924–1939; he also published his works in numerous periodicals, including ''Gazeta Polska'' (1934–1938) and ''Ateneum'' (1938–1939). He was secretary to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts (''Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych'') and from 1925 a member of the Polish PEN Club. From 1927 with the Foreign Ministry, first appointed the head of the art promotion section of the Press Department and later sent as secretary of the Polish mission to

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

(1932–1935) and

Brussels Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...

(1935–1936). He was a member of The Trade Union of Polish Writers (''Związek Zawodowy Literatów Polskich'', ZZLP) and in 1939 voted its vice-president. During World War II, Iwaszkiewicz participated in the Polish Underground State's activities, working in the Department of Education, Science and Culture of the Government Delegation for Poland. He collaborated with Prof. Stanisław Lorentz in his efforts to protect and rescue Poland's works of art. Iwaszkiewicz and his wife Anna had extensive contacts within the Jewish-Polish intelligentsia circles and assisted their former neighbors, friends and acquaintances in a variety of ways during the German occupation of Poland. Iwaszkiewicz family's ''Villa Stawisko'' residence served as a hiding place for many Jews and

Poles Pole or poles may refer to: People *Poles (people), another term for Polish people, from the country of Poland * Pole (surname), including a list of people with the name * Pole (musician) (Stefan Betke, born 1967), German electronic music artist ...

who faced the threat of being arrested by Nazi Germans, especially after the fall 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 ...

in 1944. At one time, more than 40 people were sheltered in the mansion. During the war, ''Stawisko'' also functioned as a center of Polish underground literature and art. Podkowa Lesna 1

In 1945–1946, 1947–1949 and 1959–1980, Iwaszkiewicz served as head of the Polish Writers' Union. In 1945–1949 and 1955–1957 he was literary manager of the Polish Theatre in Warsaw. From March 1947 to December 1949, he published the ''Nowiny literackie'' ('Literary News') magazine. Beginning in 1956, for many years he was chief editor of the monthly ''Twórczość'' ('Creativity'). Vice-president of the Polish PEN Club in 1950–1965. Iwaszkiewicz was an organizer of the World Congress of Intellectuals in Defense of Peace held 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 ...

in 1948 and a delegate to the World Peace Congress in 1950. He served as a nonpartisan member of parliament from 1952 until his death in 1980. In his last three terms, he was the Senior Marshal of the ''Sejm''. Iwaszkiewicz wrote of his deeply

socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

convictions, but was ambivalent and privately bitter about the political reality of the

Polish People's Republic The Polish People's Republic (1952–1989), formerly the Republic of Poland (1947–1952), and also often simply known as Poland, was a country in Central Europe that existed as the predecessor of the modern-day democratic Republic of Poland. ...

, within which he officially functioned. Nevertheless, he was greatly impressed by the appreciation note that he received from

Bolesław Bierut Bolesław Bierut (; 18 April 1892 – 12 March 1956) was a Polish communist activist and politician, leader of History of Poland (1945–1989), communist-ruled Poland from 1947 until 1956. He was President of the State National Council from 1944 ...

on the 40th anniversary of Iwaszkiewicz's literary career. In 1956, he was thrilled by the Polish October events. After a conversation with Edward Ochab in 1961, Iwaszkiewicz wrote: "They blame me for not having done anything as a member of the ''Sejm'', but then they want me to be a deputy again". He continued his lifelong habit of making many foreign trips. Iwaszkiewicz wrote novels and short stories, poems, dramatic works, essays and columns, and translations from French, English, Russian and Danish literatures. His major epic novel is ''Sława i Chwała'' ('Fame and Glory') – a panorama of life of Polish intelligentsia in the first half of the 20th century. In particular, he is highly regarded for his short stories, a genre he developed and modernized. Using changing forms and themes, throughout his career Iwaszkiewicz produced collections of poems of major significance. He wrote plays based on classical motifs and many miscellaneous pieces reflecting his interests and pursuits in areas such as music and theatre, travel, and popularization of culture. In 1936, Iwaszkiewicz won the Golden Laurel (Polish: ''Złoty Wawrzyn'') conferred by the Polish Academy of Literature. He was twice awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (1946 and 1947) and also the Order of the Builders of People's Poland in 1954. In 1955, he became the recipient of the

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic () is the most senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of Italy, President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-ranking honour of the Republi ...

and the Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland. In 1970, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize. In 1974, Edward Gierek awarded him with the Grand Cross of the

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 ...

. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Warsaw in 1971 and the

Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University (, UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by Casimir III the Great, King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and one of the List of oldest universities in con ...

in 1979, as well as numerous other Polish, foreign and international awards and distinctions. However, Iwaszkiewicz's works were removed in Poland from school recommended readings after the collapse of the Soviet Bloc. They have since been regaining the recognition of their value and rank.

Czesław Miłosz Czesław Miłosz ( , , ; 30 June 1911 – 14 August 2004) was a Polish Americans, Polish-American poet, prose writer, translator, and diplomat. He primarily wrote his poetry in Polish language, Polish. Regarded as one of the great poets of the ...

wrote the following: "Iwaszkiewicz is a great figure and nobody who deals with Polish literature can omit him. Even if some parts of his huge literary output are excluded, there is enough left, also as a testimony to the three epochs, to secure for him a place higher than that of any of his contemporaries". He concluded, "One is almost inclined to believe that some people are gripped by circumstances meant for them, and that for him the good fortunes, after his impoverished youth, began in the

interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period, also known as the interbellum (), lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days) – from the end of World War I (WWI) to the beginning of World War II ( ...

, to endure also later". For Miłosz could not imagine Iwaszkiewicz as an ''émigré'' personality. Iwaszkiewicz died on 2 March 1980 and was buried on 5 March at the cemetery in

Brwinów Brwinów is a town in Pruszków County, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland, about from the centre of Warsaw. As of December 2021, the town has a population of 13,718. Until 1954, Brwinów was the location of the Helenów parish council and between 19 ...

near Warsaw, according to his last wish in a miner's uniform.

Personal life

In 1922, Iwaszkiewicz married Anna Lilpop (1897–1979), a writer and translator and daughter of Stanisław Wilhelm Lilpop, a wealthy entrepreneur. The couple settled in Podkowa Leśna near Warsaw. In 1928, they moved to a newly built villa that Iwaszkiewicz named ''Stawisko''. It currently houses a museum devoted to Iwaszkiewicz and his wife. They had two daughters: Maria (1924–2019) and Teresa (1928–2012). Iwaszkiewicz was

bisexual Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females. It may also be defined as the attraction to more than one gender, to people of both the same and different gender, or the attraction t ...

and homoerotic; those themes are present in his poetry and prose works. In his diaries he describes himself as a " homosexual"; however, in light of the current understanding of human

sexual orientation Sexual orientation is an enduring personal pattern of romantic attraction or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. Patterns ar ...

and his biography, he can be characterized as a bisexual. Iwaszkiewicz experienced and described a particularly intense relationship with a younger man terminally ill with

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

; it commenced when the writer was over sixty years old. His wife always "knew of all of his affections". In 2012, his great-granddaughter Ludwika Włodek wrote a best-selling biographical book about the life of her great-grandfather, titled ''Pra''.

Works

Short stories

* ''Panny z Wilka'' ('The Wilko Girls'); ''Brzezina'' ('The Birch Grove'), Warsaw 1933 * ''Młyn nad Utratą'' ('The Mill on the River Utrata'), Warsaw 1936 * ''Dwa opowiadania'' ('Two Stories'), Warsaw 1938 * ''Nowa miłość i inne opowiadania'' ('New Love and Other Stories'), Warsaw 1946 * ''Tatarak i inne opowiadania'' ('Calamus and Other Stories'), Warsaw 1960 * ''Heidenreich. Cienie. Dwa opowiadania'' ('Heidenreich. Shadows. Two Stories'), Poznań 1964

Novels

* ''Zenobia Palmura'', Poznań 1920 * ''Ucieczka do Bagdadu'' ('Escape to Baghdad'), Warsaw 1923 * ''Hilary, syn buchaltera'' ('Hilary, Son of a Bookkeeper'), Warsaw 1923 * ''Księżyc wschodzi'' ('The Moon Rises'), Warsaw 1925 * ''Zmowa mężczyzn'' ('Conspiracy of Men'), Warsaw 1930 * ''Czerwone tarcze'' ('Red Shields'), Warsaw 1934 * ''Sława i chwała'' ('Fame and Glory'), vol. 1–3, Warsaw 1956–1962

Poetry

* ''Oktostychy'' ('Octostichs'), Warsaw 1919 * ''Dionizje'' ('Dionysiacs'), Warsaw 1922 * ''Kaskady zakończone siedmioma wierszami'' ('Cascades Ending in Seven Poems'), Warsaw 1925 * ''Pejzaże sentymentalne'' ('Sentimental Landscapes'), Warsaw 1926 * ''Ksiega dnia i księga nocy'' ('The Book of Day and the Book of Night'), Warsaw 1929 * ''Powrót do Europy'' ('Return to Europe'), Warsaw 1931 * ''Lato 1932'' ('Summer 1932'), 1933 * ''Inne życie'' ('Another Life'), 1938 * ''Ody olimpijskie'' ('Olympian Odes'), Warsaw 1948 * ''Warkocz jesieni'' ('The Plait of Autumn'), Warsaw 1954 * ''Ciemne ścieżki'' ('Dark Paths'), Warsaw 1957 * ''Jutro żniwa'' ('Harvest Tomorrow'), Warsaw 1963 * ''Krągły rok'' ('Year Round'), Warsaw 1967 * ''Xenie i elegie'' ('Xenias and Elegies'), Warsaw 1970 * ''Śpiewnik włoski'' ('Italian Songbook'), Warsaw 1974 * ''Mapa pogody'' ('Weather Map'), Warsaw 1977

Plays

* Libretto to Karol Szymanowski's '' King Roger''; premiere in Teatr Wielki, Warsaw 1926. Szymanowski completely re-wrote the third act libretto. * ''Kochankowie z Werony. Tragedia romatyczna w 3 aktach'' ('The Lovers of Verona. Romantic Tragedy in 3 Acts'); premiere in Teatr Nowy, Warsaw 1930 * ''Lato w Nohant. Komedia w 3 aktach'' ('The Summer at Nohant. Comedy in 3 Acts'); premiere in Teatr Mały, Warsaw 1936 * ''Maskarada. Melodramat w 4 Aktach'' ('Masquerade. Melodrama in 4 Acts'); premiere in Teatr Polski, Warsaw 1938 * ''Odbudowa Błędomierza. Sztuka w 3 aktach'' ('The Rebuilding of Błędomierz. Play in 3 Acts'); premiere in Teatr Stary, Kraków 1951 * ''Wesele Pana Balzaka'' ('The Wedding of Mr. Balzac'); premiere in Teatr Kameralny, Warsaw 1959 * ''Kosmogonia'' ('Cosmogony'); premiere in Teatr Polski, Warsaw 1967 (''Lato w Nohant'' is based on an episode in

Frédéric Chopin Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; 1 March 181017 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period who wrote primarily for Piano solo, solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown ...

's life and ''Maskarada'' on

Alexander Pushkin Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin () was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist of the Romantic era.Basker, Michael. Pushkin and Romanticism. In Ferber, Michael, ed., ''A Companion to European Romanticism''. Oxford: Blackwell, 2005. He is consid ...

's final days.)

Adaptations

Films

*'' Matka Joanna od aniołów'' ('Mother Joan of the Angels') by Jerzy Kawalerowicz 1961 *''Kochankowie z Marony'' ('The Lovers of Marona') by Jerzy Zarzycki 1966 *'' Brzezina'' ('The Birch Grove' ) by Andrzej Wajda 1970 *'' Panny z Wilka'' ('The Wilko Girls') by Andrzej Wajda 1979 *''Ryś'' (('The Lynx'), based on Iwaszkiewicz's short story ''Kościół w Skaryszewie'' ('The Church in Skaryszew')) by Stanisław Różewicz 1981 *''Kochankowie z Marony'' ('The Lovers of Marona') by Izabela Cywińska 2005 *'' Tatarak'' ('Calamus') by Andrzej Wajda 2009

Awards and decorations

* Order of the Builders of People's Poland Order of the Builders of People's Poland * POL Polonia Restituta Wielki BAR

Grand Cross of

(1974) *

Order of the Banner of Labour, 1st Class (22 July 1949) * POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski ZG BAR

Commander's Cross with Star of

(13 February 1954) * Golden Cross of Merit (twice in 15 June 1946 and 17 September 1946) * POL Wawrzyn Akademicki BAR

Golden Academic Laurel (7 November 1936) * POL Medal 30-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR

Medal of the 30th Anniversary of People's Poland (1974) * POL Medal 10-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR

Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland (19 January 1955) * Bronze Medal of Merit for National Defence (1967) * Badge of the 1000th Anniversary of the Polish State (1963) * Grande ufficiale OMRI BAR

Grand Officer of

(Italy, 1965) * DPRK ribbon bar - Order of National Flag 1st Class

Order of the National Flag, 1st Class (North Korea, 1954) * Order friendship of peoples rib

Order of Friendship of Peoples (USSR, 1974) Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz udekorowany Orderem Przyjaźni Narodów, „Dziennik Bałtycki”, nr 69, 22 marca 1974, s. 1.

Notes

References

External links

Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz
at Culture.pl {{DEFAULTSORT:Iwaszkiewicz, Jaroslaw 1894 births 1980 deaths People from Vinnytsia Oblast People from Kiev Governorate Members of the Polish Sejm 1952–1956 Members of the Polish Sejm 1961–1965 Members of the Polish Sejm 1965–1969 Members of the Polish Sejm 1969–1972 Members of the Polish Sejm 1972–1976 Members of the Polish Sejm 1976–1980 Polish male dramatists and playwrights Ballet librettists Librettists from the Russian Empire Polish LGBTQ poets Polish LGBTQ dramatists and playwrights Polish LGBTQ politicians Polish bisexual men 20th-century Polish diarists Bisexual male writers Bisexual poets Bisexual dramatists and playwrights Recipients of the Order of the Builders of People's Poland Recipients of the Lenin Peace Prize Opera librettists Polish male poets Polish male short story writers Polish male essayists 20th-century Polish poets 20th-century Polish dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Polish male writers 20th-century Polish essayists Polish Righteous Among the Nations Art competitors at the 1948 Summer Olympics Recipients of the State Award Badge (Poland) Recipients of the Medal of the 10th Anniversary of the People's Republic of Poland