In an autobiographical piece, A Kind of Testament, he wrote that his family had lived for 400 years in Lithuania on an estate between Vilnius and Kaunas but were displaced after his grandfather was accused of participating in the January Uprising of 1863.
Witold Marian Gombrowicz (August 4, 1904 – July 24, 1969) was a Polish writer and playwright.
In 1911 his family moved to Warsaw.
In the 1920s he started writing.
At the turn of the 1920s and 1930s Gombrowicz began to write short stories, later printed under the title Memoirs of a Time of Immaturity, edited by Gombrowicz and published under the name Bacacay, the street where he lived during his exile in Argentina.
After completing his education at Saint Stanislaus Kostka's Gymnasium in 1922, Gombrowicz studied law at Warsaw University, earning a MJur in 1927.
After completing his education at Saint Stanislaus Kostka's Gymnasium in 1922, Gombrowicz studied law at Warsaw University, earning a MJur in 1927.
At the turn of the 1920s and 1930s Gombrowicz began to write short stories, later printed under the title Memoirs of a Time of Immaturity, edited by Gombrowicz and published under the name Bacacay, the street where he lived during his exile in Argentina.
Gombrowicz is remembered by scholars and admirers as a writer and a man unwilling to sacrifice his imagination or his originality for any price, person, god, society, or doctrine. ==Oeuvre: bibliography, translations, adaptations== Gombrowicz's novels and plays have been translated into 35 languages. Bacacay (short stories, 1933); original title Pamiętnik z okresu dojrzewania, later retitled Bakakaj * Bacacay, tr.
Bill Johnston, Archipelago Books, 2004, . Ivona, Princess of Burgundia (play, 1935); Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda Ferdydurke (novel, 1937) * Ferdydurke, tr.
In 1937 he published his first novel, Ferdydurke, which presented many of his usual themes: problems of immaturity and youth, creation of identity in interactions with others, and an ironic, critical examination of class roles in Polish society and culture.
As Gombrowicz said, "Ferdydurke was published in 1937 before Sartre formulated his theory of the regard d'autrui.
Bill Johnston, Archipelago Books, 2004, . Ivona, Princess of Burgundia (play, 1935); Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda Ferdydurke (novel, 1937) * Ferdydurke, tr.
It was the only official way to gain access to his work. Gombrowicz's first dramatic text was Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda (Ivona, Princess of Burgundia, 1938), a tragicomedy.
It describes what the enslavement of form, custom, and ceremony brings. In 1939 he published in installments in two daily newspapers the popular novel Opętani, in which he interlaced the form of the Gothic novel with that of sensational modern romance. In Ślub, written just after the war, Gombrowicz used the form of Shakespeare's and Calderón’s theatre.
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2000, . Possessed (novel, 1939); Opętani The Marriage (play, 1948); Ślub Trans-Atlantyk (novel, 1953) * Trans-Atlantyk, tr.
He stayed in Argentina until 1963—often, especially during the war, in poverty. At the end of the 1940s Gombrowicz was trying to gain a position in Argentine literary circles by publishing articles, giving lectures at the Fray Mocho café, and, finally, by publishing in 1947 a Spanish translation of Ferdydurke, with the help of friends including Virgilio Piñera.
When he learned of the outbreak of war in Europe, he decided to wait in Buenos Aires until it was over; he reported to the Polish legation in 1941 but was considered unfit for military duties.
He stayed in Argentina until 1963—often, especially during the war, in poverty. At the end of the 1940s Gombrowicz was trying to gain a position in Argentine literary circles by publishing articles, giving lectures at the Fray Mocho café, and, finally, by publishing in 1947 a Spanish translation of Ferdydurke, with the help of friends including Virgilio Piñera.
From December 1947 to May 1955 Gombrowicz worked as a bank clerk in Banco Polaco, the Argentine branch of Bank Pekao, and formed a friendship with Zofia Chądzyńska, who introduced him to Buenos Aires's political and cultural elite.
This version of the novel is now considered a significant event in the history of Argentine literature, but at the time of its publication it did not bring Gombrowicz any great renown, nor did the 1948 publication of his drama Ślub in Spanish (The Marriage, El Casamiento).
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2000, . Possessed (novel, 1939); Opętani The Marriage (play, 1948); Ślub Trans-Atlantyk (novel, 1953) * Trans-Atlantyk, tr.
In 1950 he started exchanging letters with Jerzy Giedroyc, and in 1951 he began to publish work in the Parisian journal Culture, in which fragments of Dziennik (Diaries) appeared in 1953.
In 1950 he started exchanging letters with Jerzy Giedroyc, and in 1951 he began to publish work in the Parisian journal Culture, in which fragments of Dziennik (Diaries) appeared in 1953.
In 1950 he started exchanging letters with Jerzy Giedroyc, and in 1951 he began to publish work in the Parisian journal Culture, in which fragments of Dziennik (Diaries) appeared in 1953.
Dziennik was published in serial form in Kultura from 1953 to 1969.
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2000, . Possessed (novel, 1939); Opętani The Marriage (play, 1948); Ślub Trans-Atlantyk (novel, 1953) * Trans-Atlantyk, tr.
Eric Mosbacher and Alastair Hamilton, Grove Press (reissue edition), 1994, . Operetta (play, 1966); Operetka Diaries, 1953–1969 (diary, 1969); Dzienniki *Diary Volumes 1–3, tr.
From December 1947 to May 1955 Gombrowicz worked as a bank clerk in Banco Polaco, the Argentine branch of Bank Pekao, and formed a friendship with Zofia Chądzyńska, who introduced him to Buenos Aires's political and cultural elite.
After October 1956 four of Gombrowicz's books appeared in Poland and brought him great renown, even though the authorities did not allow the publication of Dziennik (Diary). Gombrowicz had affairs with both men and women.
In his later serialised Diary (1953–69) he wrote about his adventures in the homosexual underworld of Buenos Aires, particularly his experiences with young men from the lower class, a theme he picked up again when interviewed by Dominique de Roux in A Kind of Testament (1973). ===Last years in Europe=== In the 1960s Gombrowicz became recognised globally, and many of his works were translated, including Pornografia (Pornography) and Kosmos (Cosmos).
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2014, . Pornografia (novel, 1960) * Pornografia, Danuta Borchardt translator, Grove Press, 2009, . Cosmos (novel, 1965); Kosmos *Cosmos, tr.
He stayed in Argentina until 1963—often, especially during the war, in poverty. At the end of the 1940s Gombrowicz was trying to gain a position in Argentine literary circles by publishing articles, giving lectures at the Fray Mocho café, and, finally, by publishing in 1947 a Spanish translation of Ferdydurke, with the help of friends including Virgilio Piñera.
His dramas were staged in theatres around the world, especially in France, Germany and Sweden. Having received a scholarship from the Ford Foundation, Gombrowicz returned to Europe in 1963.
He again traveled by ship, the Italian ts/s FEDERICO C, from 8 to 22 April 1963, landing at Cannes and then taking a train to Paris.
He went back to France in 1964.
In 1964 he moved to the Côte d'Azur in the south of France with Labrosse, whom he employed as his secretary.
It worsened notably in spring 1964; he became bedridden and was unable to write.
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2014, . Pornografia (novel, 1960) * Pornografia, Danuta Borchardt translator, Grove Press, 2009, . Cosmos (novel, 1965); Kosmos *Cosmos, tr.
He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1966. ==Biography== ===Polish years=== Gombrowicz was born in Małoszyce near Opatów, then in Radom Governorate, Congress Poland, Russian Empire, to a wealthy gentry family.
Eric Mosbacher and Alastair Hamilton, Grove Press (reissue edition), 1994, . Operetta (play, 1966); Operetka Diaries, 1953–1969 (diary, 1969); Dzienniki *Diary Volumes 1–3, tr.
In May 1967 he was awarded the Prix International.
Witold Marian Gombrowicz (August 4, 1904 – July 24, 1969) was a Polish writer and playwright.
His diaries were published in 1969 and are, according to the Paris Review, "widely considered his masterpiece".
The series ended before Gombrowicz could deliver the last part, interrupted by his death on July 24, 1969.
Dziennik was published in serial form in Kultura from 1953 to 1969.
Eric Mosbacher and Alastair Hamilton, Grove Press (reissue edition), 1994, . Operetta (play, 1966); Operetka Diaries, 1953–1969 (diary, 1969); Dzienniki *Diary Volumes 1–3, tr.
Because he refused publication in Poland he remained largely unknown to the general reading public until the first half of the 1970s.
The satire presents the human either as a member of a society or an individual who struggles with himself and the world. Adaptations of Ferdydurke and other works of Gombrowicz were presented by many theatres, especially before 1986, when the first nine volumes of his works were published.
Lillian Vallee, introductory essay: Wojciech Karpiński, Northwestern University Press, 1988, . ===Other translations=== A Guide to Philosophy in Six Hours and Fifteen Minutes, Benjamin Ivry translator, Yale University Press, 2004, . Polish Memories, tr.
Marion Boyars (reissue), 1988, . A Kind of Testament, tr.
Eric Mosbacher and Alastair Hamilton, Grove Press (reissue edition), 1994, . Operetta (play, 1966); Operetka Diaries, 1953–1969 (diary, 1969); Dzienniki *Diary Volumes 1–3, tr.
Carolyn French and Nina Karsov, Yale University Press (reprint), 1995, . * Trans-Atlantyk: An Alternate Translation, tr.
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2000, . Possessed (novel, 1939); Opętani The Marriage (play, 1948); Ślub Trans-Atlantyk (novel, 1953) * Trans-Atlantyk, tr.
Bill Johnston, Archipelago Books, 2004, . Ivona, Princess of Burgundia (play, 1935); Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda Ferdydurke (novel, 1937) * Ferdydurke, tr.
Lillian Vallee, introductory essay: Wojciech Karpiński, Northwestern University Press, 1988, . ===Other translations=== A Guide to Philosophy in Six Hours and Fifteen Minutes, Benjamin Ivry translator, Yale University Press, 2004, . Polish Memories, tr.
Bill Johnston, Yale University Press, 2004, . Possessed: The Secret of Myslotch: A Gothic Novel, tr.
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2005, . *Cosmos and Pornografia: Two Novels, tr.
Alastair Hamilton, Dalkey Archive Press (reprint), 2007, . ===Film adaptations=== Ferdydurke (1991) in Polish, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski.
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2014, . Pornografia (novel, 1960) * Pornografia, Danuta Borchardt translator, Grove Press, 2009, . Cosmos (novel, 1965); Kosmos *Cosmos, tr.
and Pornografia (2003) directed by Jan Jakub Kolski 2004, the centenary of his birth, was declared the Year of Gombrowicz. Gombrowicz's last extensive work, Kronos, was published in Poland by Wydawnictwo Literackie on May 23, 2013. ==Style== Gombrowicz's works are characterised by deep psychological analysis, a certain sense of paradox and an absurd, anti-nationalist flavor.
Danuta Borchardt, Yale University Press, 2014, . Pornografia (novel, 1960) * Pornografia, Danuta Borchardt translator, Grove Press, 2009, . Cosmos (novel, 1965); Kosmos *Cosmos, tr.
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