Stefan Chwin

Diary for Adults

Excerpt

This book is a continuation of "Pages from a Diary", which appeared a few years ago. Chwin writes it in the familiar literary form of a diary as an intellectual chronicle recording the adventure of life. Biographical elements are the cement that binds it together, but in themselves they are not of major importance, in that Chwin does not weave them into the story of his clashes with other leading literary or academic figures, or with Polish society as a whole.
Chwin talks to the Poles in a way they are not used to, in a country where for all the years of bondage and political oppression a writer’s duty was to encourage and raise the spirits. Chwin’s main argument is with those who always place responsibility for various national disasters and disgraces on the shoulders of individuals, making them into scapegoats, while accepting the premise that the “simple folk” are blameless. Chwin undermines this myth, fighting for example against the conviction that General Jaruzelski was personally responsible for the state of martial law in Poland, though at the time its introduction was supported by millions of citizens, and was implemented by soldiers with eagles on their caps. There are lots of these provocative revisions of widely held judgements in this book.
Chwin continues to hold a personal dialogue with major figures in Polish and European culture, quarrels with Gombrowicz, argues with Miłosz and Herbert, gives some thought to Szymborska’s poetry, and draws a moving portrait of the critic Jan Błoński just before he withdrew from the public forum as a result of illness. He also holds these dialogues with people who are less famous, but who are in some way distinctive in their views. Ultimately the whole "Diary for Adults" taps into the element of debate and argument, where some of the recurring figures are ascribed permanent roles. For instance, Chwin’s wife is someone who never stops warning him against needlessly annoying public opinion. These arguments and disputes can be fascinating, not just because Chwin knew most of his famous partners personally, but also because he knew how to put truly important questions to them and wasn’t satisfied with perfunctory answers. However, the one and only, most important question – about the existence of God – Chwin can only put to world order and himself.

Jerzy Jarzębski