Last chapter of emigration literature — Irena Bączkowska (borm 12/05/1902 in Kijów, died 21/01/2006 in London). Interview with the writer from 15 years ago

Abstract

The article consists of two parts. The first part contains a short summary about the life and work of Irena Bączkowska, who died in London on 21 January 2006, a Polish senior writer, who lived as an emigrant since the II World War has ended. The experiences of 103 years, eight months and nine days. She is the author of novels and short stories, published since 1953 in the London “Literary News” (“Wiadomości”). They represent a world – in a narrative form, different from other “reminiscing” literary forms – encompassing the times of the first decade of the 20th century till the end of World War II. They describe the life of Polish landowners on the eastern side of the former Republic of Poland as well as the fate of individuals and social groups as they relocated following the “tracks of war” after September 1939. In the second part of the article, the author reminiscences about his meeting with the writer in London and attaches his interview with Irena Bączkowska that has been transmitted in a literary program at Polish Section of Radio Free Europe on 26/10/1991.