Jerzy Ficowski
Jerzy Ficowski (1924-2006) was a notable Polish poet, essayist, and translator, recognized for his substantial contributions to literature and his in-depth exploration of cultural themes. Born in Warsaw, he became deeply engaged in literary studies following his service in the Polish underground army during World War II. Ficowski is perhaps best known for his acclaimed biography of Bruno Schulz, the influential Polish Jewish writer, which is regarded as a definitive account of Schulz's life and work. Over his career, Ficowski published many volumes of poetry and was particularly interested in Gypsy culture, having spent two years traveling with a group of Gypsies. His works on Gypsy folklore, including translated tales, highlight his commitment to cultural preservation. In addition to his literary pursuits, he translated significant works from Yiddish and Spanish into Polish. Throughout his lifetime, Ficowski received several prestigious awards, underscoring his impact on literature and translation. His legacy continues to resonate in the fields of Polish literature and cultural studies.
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Subject Terms
Jerzy Ficowski
Writer
- Born: September 4, 1924
- Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland
- Died: May 9, 2006
- Place of death: Warsaw, Poland
Biography
Jerzy Ficowski is a Polish poet, essayist, and translator who wrote an acclaimed biography of Bruno Schulz, a Polish Jewish artist and writer. Ficowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1924, the son of Tadeusz Ficowski, a lawyer, and Halina Ficowski. After serving in the Polish underground army during World War II, he attended the University of Warsaw in 1946. He studied sociology and philosophy at the university and graduated in 1950. Ficowski married Wanda Komala, an artist, in 1951, and the couple had two daughters, Krystyna and Magdalena. After divorcing Komala, Ficowski married Elzbieta Bussold, a writer, in 1968, and the couple had a daughter, Anna.
Ficowski began studying the life and work of Schulz in 1946, collecting the literary works of this underappreciated writer from the post-World War II era. He later published a biography of Schulz, Regiony Wielkiej Herezji (1967); Regions of the Great Heresy: Bruno Schulz, a Biographical Portrait (2003); critics consider this the definitive biography of Schulz. In addition, Ficowski edited two books of Schulz’s work, Letters and Drawings of Bruno Schulz (1988) and The Drawings of Bruno Schulz.
Schulz also has published numerous volumes of poetry, including his first poetry collection, Olowiani zolnierze (1948). He spent two years of life, from 1948 until 1950, traveling with a group of Gypsies and studying their culture. He translated Gypsy folk tales into Polish and published them in his book Galazka z drzewa slonca (1961); Sisters of the Bird, and Other Gypsy Tales (1976). He also wrote a book about the Gypsies in Poland, translated Yiddish and Spanish literary works into Polish, and published a book of his short stories, Czekanie na sen psa (1970).
Ficowski has received a number of awards for his writing. In 1977, he was honored with the Polish PEN Club Award for his translations. He received the Poets’ and Painters’ Press Award in London in 1981; the Alfred Jurzykowski Foundation Award in New York City in 1984; the K. Tzetnik Award in Holocaust Literature in Jerusalem, Israel, in 1986; and the Jan Karski Award from the Yivo Institute in New York City in in 1994.