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Andzhey DravichLiterary critic, essayist.
Country:
 Poland |
Content:
- Biography of Andrzej Drawicz
- Early Life and Education
- Career
- Political Engagement
- Contributions to Literature
- Personal Life and Legacy
Biography of Andrzej Drawicz
IntroductionAndrzej Drawicz was a literary critic, essayist, connoisseur, enthusiast, and translator of Russian literature, particularly of the uncensored and unofficial works. He was born in Poland and had a deep passion for literature and intellectual pursuits.
Early Life and Education
Andrzej Drawicz's father was an officer who was executed in Katyn. Drawicz completed his studies in Polish literature at the University of Warsaw. It was during this time that he made his debut as a literary critic in 1951 and started publishing in major magazines.
Career
From 1954 to 1964, Drawicz collaborated with the Student Satirical Theater (STS), a cabaret theater with the motto "I Don't Care." He taught Russian literature in Cologne in 1977-1978 and later at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow from 1981. In the mid-1970s, he became critical of the official political course and was one of the signatories of the Protest Letter of the 59. Drawicz also joined the editorial board of the uncensored journal Zapis in 1977 and was a member of the Underground University from 1979 to 1981.
Political Engagement
Drawicz joined the Solidarity movement and, in 1981, was interned after the declaration of martial law. After the fall of communism, from 1989 to 1991, he headed the Committee for Radio and Television in the government of Tadeusz Mazowiecki. He worked at the Institute of Slavonic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Polish Department of the University of Warsaw.
Contributions to Literature
Andrzej Drawicz was one of the initiators and authors of "The History of Russian Literature of the 20th Century," which was completed and published after his death in 1997. He also contributed to numerous other collective works on Russian literature of the 20th century. Drawicz was known for his translations of authors such as Bulgakov, Mayakovsky, and Mandelstam. He also played a significant role in promoting Russian literature in Poland through his editorship of Polish editions of works by Bulgakov and Zoshchenko.
Personal Life and Legacy
Andrzej Drawicz had a wide network of literary acquaintances and friendships with prominent Russian authors such as Anna Akhmatova, Nadezhda Mandelstam, and Joseph Brodsky. He was buried in Warsaw at the Powązki Military Cemetery. Drawicz's work and contributions to literature continue to be recognized, and he remains an influential figure in Polish literary criticism and translation.
