Censorship of Literature in Post-War Poland: In Light of the Confidential Bulletins for Censors from 1945 to 1956 - ebook

The author’s focus on a relatively neglected field of censorship research – the bulletins – and attempt to provide a systematic account of their role and nature marks the key innovative aspect of the work. I deeply appreciate and admire the colossal labour that the author has undertaken to produce the text, especially in the extremely difficult circumstances that we have had to endure these past two years.

Dr. John M. Bates
University of Glasgow

The reviewed publication will enable foreign readers to get an insight into how the system of control and repression operated in Poland during the Stalinist era. Furthermore, it will familiarize them with the history of Poland, including Polish literature of that period.

Prof. Kamila Kamińska-Chełminiak
University of Warsaw

Wiśniewska-Grabarczyk’s monograph is based on rich source material and is of great intellectual value. The publication of the book in English will further research on communist censorship in Central and Eastern Europe in the context of comparative analysis.

Prof. Sławomir Buryła
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

INTRODUCTION

Some Remarks about Censorship in Poland in the Years 1944–1990

Research Assumptions

State of the Art

Source Material

Rules for Presenting the Material

PART ONE. IN SEARCH OF A DEFINITION: WHAT WERE THE CONFIDENTIAL BULLETINS FOR CENSORS? CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOURCE MATERIAL

1. The Purpose of Creating a Confidential Periodical for Censors

2. The Censor as the Co-Author of Bulletins for Censors

3. Characteristics of the Source Material and the Issue of the Bulletin’s Identity

4. The Bulletin for Censors as a Cryptotext. A Defi ion of the Genre

PART TWO. LITERATURE AND CURRENT LITERARY PHENOMENA

I. Fiction

1. The Censor’s Struggle with the Text. Some Preliminary Remarks

1.1. Literary and Cultural Issues on the Pages of the Bulletins

1.2. The Censorship of Fiction

1.3. The Specifics of Book Inspection

2. Competition for a Censorship Review of Wanda Wasilewska’s Novel Rzeki Płoną

3. Poetry

3.1. How to Review Poetry Selections? Ginczanka, Hollender, Słonimski, Ważyk, and an Unknown Red Army Man

3.2. An Evaluation of the Poetic Publications Printed by the “Czytelnik” Publishing Cooperative in 1951

3.3. On the Works of Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna

3.4. On a Discussion of the Poem “Oskarżam” by Mikołaj Rostworowski

3.5. Other Poetic Works Discussed in the Bulletins: (Not Only) Norwid, Pasternak, Lenin, Mayakovsky, and Jasieński

4. Prose Works

4.1. How to Review Select Prose? Nałkowska, Borowski, and Bartelski

4.2. Books Selected for Discussion in Censorship Offices Between 1952 and 1956

4.2.1. Titles Selected for Discussion in Censorship Offices in 1952: (Not Only) Kuśmierek and Czeszko

4.2.2. Books Selected for Discussion in Censorship Offices in 1953

4.2.3. Books Selected for Discussion in Censorship Offices in 1954: (Not Only) Brzeziński, Kuśmierek, Kubalski, and Promiński

4.2.4. Books Selected for Discussion in Censorship Offices in 1955: (Not Only) Kowalewski, Dróżdż-Satanowska, Stadnicki, and Bednorz

4.2.5. Titles Selected for Discussion in Censorship Offices in 1956: (Not Only) Andrzejewski, Rudnicki, and Flaszen

4.3. Books Discussed as Part of the Series For a Higher Level of Work on the Book: (Not Only) Nałkowska, Czeszko, Lācis, Meisner, and Jackiewicz

4.4. Other Prose Works Discussed in the Bulletins: (Not Only) Sowińska, Koźniewski, Strumph-Wojtkiewicz, Gil, Zalewski, Bocheński, Bartelski, Dębnicki, Dobraczyński, and Żeromski

5. Dramatic Works

6. Satirical Works

7. Children’s and Young Adult Literature

8. Literature and Discussions of the “Thaw”

9. Censorship According to Publisher: (Not Only) “Czytelnik”

10. Literary and Cultural Issues in the Press

II. Non-fiction

1. Scientific and Popular Science Publications

1.1. Scientific and Popular Science Publications in the Humanities

1.1.1. Publications in the Field of Literature (and Culture)

1.2. Scientific Publications in the Social Sciences

1.3. Scientific and Popular Science Publications in Engineering and Technology

2. Periodic Reports on the Book Market

III. Other Topics Related to the Supervision of the Word

PART THREE. “CAMERA CENSORICA.” WHAT ELSE WAS DISCUSSED IN THE BULLETINS?

I. Other Problems Raised in the Bulletins

II. Before the Proper Summary, or… the Censor as an Artist: The Literary Work of the Functionaries of “Mysia Street and Its Environs”

SUMMARY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INDEX OF FIGURES AND TABLES

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Subject literature

List of Authors and Works Documented in the Bulletins for Censors from 1945–1956 (Selection)

List of the Bulletins for Censors and Biblioteczki Biuletynu Informacyjno-Instrukcyjnego GUKPPiW

Literary Texts, Journalism (Literary and Film Criticism, Interviews, etc.), Made Before 1945

Literary Texts, Journalism (Literary and Film Criticism, Interviews, etc.), Radio Programs and Films Made Between 1945–1956

Literary Texts, Journalism (Literary and Film Criticism, Interviews, etc.), Radio Programs and Films Made Between 1957–1990

Literary Texts, Journalism (Literary and Film Criticism, Interviews, etc.), Radio Programs and Films Made After 1990

Scholarly and Popular Science Texts

Other Archival Sources

Electronic Sources

Legal Acts

Author’s e-mail correspondence