Literature and Nationalism

A conference entitled “Nationalism towards literature, literature towards nationalism” was held in the Educational Centre of the Roman Dmowski and Ignacy Jan Paderewski Institute of National Thought.

The manager of the Institute opened the conference Prof. Jan Żaryn, emphasizing, among others, that the links of the planet of literature with national environments on Polish lands were already visible at the dawn of this political movement.

As the first paper entitled "Poetry in the Cieszyn-Podhalan territory of SN – artists, inspirations and creativity and its political significance“ In a part devoted to the literary environment, ” said Tomasz Szczepaniak. The beginnings of the national formation in the area were connected with the individual of Fr Stanisław Stojałowski, who initiated socio-political activity primarily among the many working population in the region. After Poland regained independence, this work was continued within the National Party. poesy was an accessible form of promotion among the agrarian and working population of the ideas of the SN.

Young Nationalist from 1929, among others, published his works by young poets to the people. Among them, the talker mentioned Janek from Bugaj (Antoni Kucharczyk), Franciszek Kuras and Józef Nock. As another speaker, Prof. Maciej Urbanowski (OJ). In the paper ‘Put your fist – literature in the ellipse “Kuźni” and “Dwiggers”“” he introduced literary themes taken up in writings published in the conspiracy ellipse of the “Sword and Plow” organization. 1 of the leading representatives of this environment was Roman Bratny. The ideology formulated within the organization has frequently had a polemic character towards the indications of National Democracy. It advocated the creation of the Slavic Empire, and the enunciations of the groups besides featured Panslawist themes. The literature promoted Tyrtian lyricism. Prof. Urbanowski, referring to the postwar period of Bratny's biography, pointed out, among others, that in the fresh "Columbowie. Yearbook 20" any of the group's programming points were attributed to the "Arts and Nation" environment.

In the next speech, “Literature and literary criticism in the ellipse of the Polish Organization for Cultural Action” Michał Gniadek-Zielinski (UW/IDMN) presented activities led by Onufrego Bronisław Kopczyński and Jerzy Dowiat organisation. The talker described the promoted imagination of national culture and literature formulated, among others, in the diary "Cultural Movement". The artistic events initiated by POAK (e.g. poetic evenings) were attended by writers associated with the movement, among others: Wojciech Bąk, Władysław Jan Grabski and Jerzy Pietrkiewicz. Criticism has been subjected to the imideism, egocentricism and escapism of interwar literature.

Another panel devoted to authors and their works opened Tomasz Kisiel (UW)) a mention entitled "Karol Hubert Rostworowski as a politicianIt’s okay. ” 1 of the most popular playwrights of the interwar period held many organization functions in the structures of the National Democracy, besides edited the Kraków movement organ, “The Tribune of the Nation”. Another speaker, Jakub Makarewicz (UJ)), his speech entitled ‘Trilogy of National novels by Władysław Jan Grabski“ he dedicated his work to “brothers” (1933), “the lie” (1935) and “On the Edge” (1936). The talker pointed, among others, to the planting of works in the interwar realities and the similarity to Tomasz Mann's “Czarodejski Góra” visible in the content of described works.

Dr. Maciej Motas (Public Library of Warsaw) speech entitled “Wiktor Troscianko – “a rejected lover of literature” or a author faithful to the shadows of Mickiewicz?” He devoted to the literary work of 1 of the most popular editors of the Polish RWE Radio station. It consisted of both poems, stories, reporting and novels. Troscianko besides took up literary themes in the press, headed by “Thinking Poland”. ‘Witold Kotowski's literary passions” published in turn Prof. Dorota Samborska-Kukuć (LUL). Born in Łódź in 1899, the SN activist enrolled as 1 of the most prominent researchers of the life and achievements of Władysław Reymont. W. Kotowski was the author of many articles and publications devoted to the author of the “Guys”. His work "Under the Wind. Reymont's Youth" (1979) is inactive among the best monographs describing the first period of the writer's biography. Apart from literary and legal subjects – Kotowski was an lawyer by profession – he besides dealt with alcohol addiction issues.

Dr. Maciej Motas

The first day of the gathering culminated in an evening with the work of “Art and Nation” during which a documentary movie entitled “One Day From the Life of Wenceslaw Bojarski” and a gathering of the author with participation Prof. M. Urbanowski and M. Gniadka-Zielinski, devoted to the publication „Artist is the organizer of the national imagination. “Art and Nation” (1942-1944)” (Warsaw 2023). extended work (ps. 758), 1 of the co-editors of which is the IDMN, is simply a full edition of all conspiracy numbers of the writing, with 3 volumes of poems attached as appendix, which were published in the framework of the Library of Art and Nation, prepared in a problematic arrangement.

The second day of the conference was initiated by the presentation of IDMN investigation projects. The first of them entitled “The Right side of war literature” brought together M. Gniadek-Zielinski. Following the release of Volume I, dedicated to the “Art and Nation”, another edition is foreseen. These are to be followed by Volume II – “Kultura Tomorrow”, a conspiracy magazine published by “Union”, whose editor was Jerzy Braun, Volume III – “Kuźnia” and “Dźwigary”, Volume IV – Varia, including “The Causes of the Nation”, a literary-social monthly magazine published by SN in the country, “Cultural Affairs”, issued by the Cultural Movement of Andrzej Trzebiński, and a letter “Jutro Poetry”, with which Tadeusz Kubiak was associated. Second task entitled ‘Edition of Zygmunt Wasilewski's writings" presented Dr. M. Motas. As part of the project, 1 of the leading publicists of the national camp is planned to print the selected writing material. Individual volumes are to include political, critical and literary writings, publications and achievements in regionalistics and ethnography. The full is to be completed by a biography of the author and journalist.

Panel entitled ‘Authors and their works" was opened by Prof. Krzysztof Kosiński (IH PAN) with a mention “The literary work of Roman Dmowski. Interpretations and contexts". The literary debut of the leader of the All-Polish camp was “Nowela about the Warsaw Street” published in “Kurier Lwowski” in 1890. Prof. Kosiński discussed 2 books published in 1931, novels by R. Dmowski, “In the Half Way” and “The Heritage”. The talker in a very interesting way outlined, among others, the figures shown in both tracks. As another speaker, Dr. Matthew Kofinwho gave the paper ‘“Pornograph from behind incense?”. About “The Pregnant Word”, the forgotten fresh by Adam Doboszyński.”

The author of Jan Mosdorf's biography cited many discussions and reviews on the novels, including press publications by Ksawery Pruszyński, Kazimierz Marian Morawski, Stanisław Cata-Mackiewicz and Jan Rembieliński. Dr. Kofin besides presented the influence of the fresh on the biography of its author, primarily in the context of the pre- and post-war court trials of A. Doboszyński. Prof. Jarosław Tomasiewicz (UŚ) published in turn "Selected nationalist creative environments of the interwar 20th centuryIt’s okay. ” Among those presented were: “Podbipięta”, “Kuźnica”, “Fantana”, “Dziennik Polski”, “Tomorrow of Poland”, “Lech” and “Gazeta Literacka”.

In the next part of the conference entitled "Sources and inspirations” Dr. Karolina Kołodziej (UL) She presented a sketch ‘ “I would like this relationship to be a kind of covenant” by Reymont and Dmowski.” A investigator on the can of relations between the author and politician showed the influence of national ideology on the content of the fresh “The Promised Land”. Further Prof. Karol Samsel (UW) in the speech entitled ‘Adolf Nowaczyński to Irish literature and theatre. Case study’ In turn, he outlined many literary parallels between the work of Irish playwrights specified as Oscar Wilde and John Millington Synge, and the work of the author of "Malpy mirrors". As another study entitled ‘Nationalists in relation to Stanisław Brzozowski’s achievements” presented Arkady Miksa. He showed a reception of the views of the author of “Young Poland Legenda” on the example of the writings of Karol Ludwik Koniński, Zygmunt Wasilewski, Włodzimierz Pietrzak and Andrzej Trzebiński. Iwo Buller (UW)) in the message ‘Reception of Literary Works by Gilbert Keith Chesterton in the Polish National Movement” He quoted opinions about the author of “Napoleon from Notting Hill” formulated in the ellipse of the national camp, among others, by Stanisław Piasecki, Władysław Tarnawski, Wojciech Wasiutyński and Stanisław Kozicki.

Arkadius Miksa

For the final panel of the conference on "In the ellipse “From the bridge”’ 3 papers were submitted. In the first one, entitled ““Easy from the Bridge” – Jerzy Andrzejewski’s youthful affair‘ Dr. Apolinara Rzoniec outlined the complicated relation of the author of the "The Order of the Heart" with the national weekly. As another speaker, Wojciech Rotarskiwho, in the presence of "Constanty Dobrzyński (1908-1939) – national poet“ he presented a figure of a young poet-employee, publishing in Łódź the mutation of the diary “The Advocate”. The talker besides analysed the poesy of K. Dobrzyński entitled “Black Poetry” (1936) and “Żagwie wichrach” (1938) published by Poznań publishing companies “Polish Printerry”. Krzysztof Kofin (University of Ignatianum) presented as the last of his elaborate entitled “Criticals of the Polish Academy of Literature in the diary “Easy from the Bridge”. He pointed, among others, to the primaries of criticism of national publicists formulated in relation to the Academy established in 1933. The biggest charges were the personnel composition of PAL and the selection of writers typed for awards and distinctions.

Most of the speeches were accompanied by multimedia presentations, and the following parts of the conference culminated in a lively discussion. In the summary of the two-day meetings, the organizers emphasized the richness and multi-threadness of the issues raised in the speeches. The publication of post-conference material in the form of a separate publication was besides announced.

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Photo: Roman Dmowski and Ignacy Jan Paderewski Institute of National thought Heritage

Think Poland, No. 49-50 (3-10.12.2023)