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Manfred KridlPolish historian and literary theorist.
Date of Birth: 11.10.1882
Country:  Poland |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Edward Kryński was born in Lwów, Poland, on October 5, 1886. His father, Edward Józef Kryński, was a Czech officer in the Austrian army.
Kryński studied Polish, French, and philosophy at Lwów University from 1902 to 1906. He was actively involved in socialist circles and parties. He continued his studies at the universities of Fribourg and Paris.
Academic Career
Kryński received his doctorate in philosophy from Lwów University in 1909. He taught at a private school and a gymnasium before becoming a professor at Warsaw University in 1921.
In 1929, Kryński became a professor of Slavic studies at the University of Brussels. His highly influential book, "Main Currents of European Literature: Classicism, Romanticism, and the Post-Romantic Era" (1932), earned him a professorship at Stefan Batory University in Vilnius. In 1934, he became a full professor of Polish literature history.
Kryński served as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities during the 1934/35 academic year and as Vice-Rector from 1935 to 1936. He was known for his support of left-leaning students, including the poets associated with the "Żagary" circle.
Literary Theory
In Vilnius, Kryński published his groundbreaking work, "Introduction to the Study of Literary Works" (1936). This book presented a methodological approach influenced by the theories of the Russian Formalists, sparking significant debate.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1940, Kryński fled Nazi-occupied Poland through Switzerland to Belgium and then to the United States. He taught Polish language and literature at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, from 1940 to 1948.
From 1948 until his retirement in 1956, Kryński was a professor at Columbia University in New York City. He continued to teach and publish scholarly work after his retirement.
Edward Kryński passed away in New York City on June 8, 1961, and was buried in Dennisport, Massachusetts. His contributions to Polish literature history, literary theory, and the study of Slavic literature are highly regarded and continue to influence scholars today.
