A Conversation with Tadeusz Konwicki by Victoria Knyszek

Alien in My Homeland

             Mr. Tadeusz Konwicki lived through World War II and his memories and experiences stuck with him throughout his life. His writing style was dark, conveying the anxiety and helplessness he felt while living in war-torn Poland. After serving on the front lines against the Nazi forces, he began writing pieces for newspapers and became the editor of a literary magazine. Sharing a Communist perspective, his work was received by a split nation. Some were in favor of a Soviet way of life and others were set on reestablishing Poland’s prior government. His novels and autobiography can be described as “a loose stream of memories” and compared to his own self-told novel Konwicki criticizes most people’s for having “no dread, no real-life experiences.” His recollections of life are conflicted; when visiting his hometown of Wilno he referred to himself as an alien. The area he recalled had changed immensely in terms of its cultural because of its location in close proximity to both Lithuanian and the Russian Federation. In The Review of Contemporary Fiction, Konwicki makes the comparison “If we look at America, I, as an unprofessional observer, see that the American South is closest to this ethos. Why? Because of a mixture, a clash of cultures.”

Tadeusz stood out to me initially because I wanted to discover a Polish writer that had a different style. His story behind his body of work and the way he conveyed it truly displayed his unique voice. Even his novels, he explains his characters and plot as a representation of his own life; “Everything started with me” he said. Konwicki’s own experiences is what he felt he knew best. He also described himself as “an exceptional outsider” but still would “show up in the city; make jokes and so on.” These words connected with me on a much deeper level than I had anticipated. I in the same way feel that I am different than everyone while still constantly surrounding myself with other people. I enjoy making other people happy; however, I personally am not.

Had I been given the opportunity to speak with Mr. Konwicki before his death in 2015, I would have asked him about his relationship with his wife. I imagine it to be based on love and support. He must have adored her as he spoke of women as a “mystery” and mentioned that his generation was “intrigued by women” not at all how men write about them today. I, being a Catholic as he was, would have asked him how his faith shaped him as a person and affected his writings. Assuming his response, he would have said his religion humbled him and gave him hope through his time fighting on the front lines.

Tadeusz most famous works included:

  • Przy budowie (At the Construction Site) – 1950
  • Rojsty (The Marshes) – 1956
  • Ostantni dzien lata (The Last day of Summer) – 1958
  • Sennik wspoczesney (A Dreambook for Our Time) – 1963
  • Zwierzocztekoupior (The Anthrops-Spectre-Beast) – 1969
  • Kompleks polski (The Polish Complex) – 1977
  • Mata apokalipsa (A Minor Apocalypse) – 1979
  • Wschody I zachody ksiezyca (Moonrise, Moonset) – 1981
  • Bohin (Bohin Manor) – 1987

 

 

Title: Wikipedia : Tadeusz Konwicki

Website Set Up: Biography followed by a list 0f writings and films

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadeusz_Konwicki

The website is headed with a bulleted list of the page’s contents including Life, Literary Works, and References. There is also general information provided in a box separate from the test. It gives date of birth and death, occupation, as well as a dated picture of the writer. After providing a brief synopsis of his life and summarizing famous work, the page lists references used for this source. I loved the “Categories” of related topics included at the bottom allowing readers to explore other subjects after learning about Mr. Konwicki.