Ferdydurke
Encyclopedia
Ferdydurke is a novel by the Polish writer Witold Gombrowicz
, published in 1937. In this darkly humorous story, Joey Kowalski describes his transformation from a 30-year-old man into a teenage boy. Kowalski's exploits are comic and fervid -- for this is a modernism closer to Dada
and the Marx brothers
than to the elevated tones of T. S. Eliot
or Ezra Pound
-- but also carry a subtle undertone of philosophical seriousness.
Ferdydurke was published at an inopportune moment. World War II
, the Soviet Union's imposition of a communist regime in Poland, and the author's decades of exile in Argentina nearly erased public awareness of a novel that remains a singularly strange exploration of identity and cultural and political mores.
monologue transitions into a schoolboy memoir, then abruptly becomes a story of intergenerational struggle before finishing up as a "socially conscious" tale of life in a country manor. At each transition point there is a general brawl, a moment of escape, followed by a descent back into rigid form. Gombrowicz weaves into the book his theme that immaturity is the force behind our creative endeavors, but he's also clear that there's no getting away from this relentless, normalizing force.
Gombrowicz himself wrote of his novel that it is not "... a satire on some social class, nor a nihilistic attack on culture... We live in an era of violent changes, of accelerated development, in which settled forms are breaking under life's pressure... The need to find a form for what is yet immature, uncrystalized and underdeveloped, as well as the groan at the impossibility of such a postulate -- this is the chief excitement of my book."
with introduction by Susan Sontag
, deftly captures Gombrowicz's idiosyncratic style, allowing English speakers to fully experience the text.
The first Spanish translation of the novel, published in Buenos Aires
in 1947
, was done by Gombrowicz himself. A translation committee presided by the Cuban writer Virgilio Piñera
helped him in this endeavor, since Gombrowicz felt that he did not know the language well enough at the time to do it on his own. Gombrowicz again collaborated on a French translation of the book, with Ronald Martin in 1958. A direct German translation by Walter Tiel was published in 1960. Direct and indirect translations now exist in over twenty languages.
In 2006, the first Brazilian translation, direct from the Polish original text, was delivered. Tomasz Barcinski was responsible for the project.
directed the 1991 film adaptation of Ferdydurke (alternate English title: 30 Door Key) with international cast including Iain Glen
, Crispin Glover
, Beata Pozniak
, Robert Stephens
, Judith Godrèche, Zbigniew Zamachowski
, and Fabienne Babe.
In 1999s, Ferdydurke was adapted into internationally acclaimed stage play by Provisorium & Kompania Theater from Lublin
.
Witold Gombrowicz
Witold Marian Gombrowicz was a Polish novelist and dramatist. His works are characterized by deep psychological analysis, a certain sense of paradox and an absurd, anti-nationalist flavor...
, published in 1937. In this darkly humorous story, Joey Kowalski describes his transformation from a 30-year-old man into a teenage boy. Kowalski's exploits are comic and fervid -- for this is a modernism closer to Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
and the Marx brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
than to the elevated tones of T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
or Ezra Pound
Ezra Pound
Ezra Weston Loomis Pound was an American expatriate poet and critic and a major figure in the early modernist movement in poetry...
-- but also carry a subtle undertone of philosophical seriousness.
Ferdydurke was published at an inopportune moment. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Soviet Union's imposition of a communist regime in Poland, and the author's decades of exile in Argentina nearly erased public awareness of a novel that remains a singularly strange exploration of identity and cultural and political mores.
Analysis
Gombrowicz is interested in identity and the way time and circumstance, history and place impose form on people's lives. The book itself is a parody of common literary forms in prewar Polish literature - an introspective, almost ProustianMarcel Proust
Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental À la recherche du temps perdu...
monologue transitions into a schoolboy memoir, then abruptly becomes a story of intergenerational struggle before finishing up as a "socially conscious" tale of life in a country manor. At each transition point there is a general brawl, a moment of escape, followed by a descent back into rigid form. Gombrowicz weaves into the book his theme that immaturity is the force behind our creative endeavors, but he's also clear that there's no getting away from this relentless, normalizing force.
Gombrowicz himself wrote of his novel that it is not "... a satire on some social class, nor a nihilistic attack on culture... We live in an era of violent changes, of accelerated development, in which settled forms are breaking under life's pressure... The need to find a form for what is yet immature, uncrystalized and underdeveloped, as well as the groan at the impossibility of such a postulate -- this is the chief excitement of my book."
Translations
The novel's rich celebration of language, full of neologisms, pastiche, and linguistic playfulness, not to mention the use of multiple ideolects makes it very difficult to translate. Anglophone readers have not been helped by the fact Eric Mosbacher's first translation was indirect, done from the French, with reference to the German translation. Danuta Borchardt's complete direct translation of the novel, published in 20002000 in literature
The year 2000 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* February 13 - Final original Peanuts comic strip is published...
with introduction by Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag was an American author, literary theorist, feminist and political activist whose works include On Photography and Against Interpretation.-Life:...
, deftly captures Gombrowicz's idiosyncratic style, allowing English speakers to fully experience the text.
The first Spanish translation of the novel, published in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in 1947
1947 in literature
The year 1947 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The Diary of Anne Frank is published for the first time.*Jack Kerouac makes the journey which he will later chronicle in his book On the Road....
, was done by Gombrowicz himself. A translation committee presided by the Cuban writer Virgilio Piñera
Virgilio Piñera
Virgilio Piñera Llera was a Cuban author, playwright, poet, short-story writer, and essayist.Among his most famous poems are "La isla en peso" , and "La gran puta" . He was a member of the "Origenes" literary group, although he often differed with the conservative views of the group...
helped him in this endeavor, since Gombrowicz felt that he did not know the language well enough at the time to do it on his own. Gombrowicz again collaborated on a French translation of the book, with Ronald Martin in 1958. A direct German translation by Walter Tiel was published in 1960. Direct and indirect translations now exist in over twenty languages.
In 2006, the first Brazilian translation, direct from the Polish original text, was delivered. Tomasz Barcinski was responsible for the project.
Adaptations
Jerzy SkolimowskiJerzy Skolimowski
Jerzy Skolimowski is a Polish film director, screenwriter, dramatist and actor. A graduate of the prestigious National Film School in Łódź, Skolimowski has directed more than twenty films since his 1960 début Oko wykol...
directed the 1991 film adaptation of Ferdydurke (alternate English title: 30 Door Key) with international cast including Iain Glen
Iain Glen
Iain Glen is a Scottish film and stage actor.Iain Glen was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and trained at RADA where he won the Bancroft Gold Medal. He was married to Susannah Harker from 1993 to 2004; they have one son, Finlay...
, Crispin Glover
Crispin Glover
Crispin Hellion Glover is an American film actor, director and screenwriter, recording artist, publisher, and author. Glover is known for portraying eccentric people on screen such as George McFly in Back to the Future, Layne in River's Edge, unfriendly recluse Rubin Farr in Rubin and Ed, the...
, Beata Pozniak
Beata Pozniak
Beata Poźniak is a Polish-American actress, film director, painter, fashion model and activist who is now based out of the United States.-Biography:...
, Robert Stephens
Robert Stephens
Sir Robert Stephens was a leading English actor in the early years of England's Royal National Theatre.-Early life and career:...
, Judith Godrèche, Zbigniew Zamachowski
Zbigniew Zamachowski
Zbigniew Zamachowski is a Polish actor.Zamachowski graduated the actor's faculty in "PWSFTViT" in Łódź. He began his acting career in 1981 and in 1989 had a co-starring role in Part Ten of director Krzysztof Kieślowski's film series, The Decalogue...
, and Fabienne Babe.
In 1999s, Ferdydurke was adapted into internationally acclaimed stage play by Provisorium & Kompania Theater from Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
.
External links
- Presentation, analysis and excerpt of Ferdydurke on the official website of Witold Gombrowicz
- Danuta Borchardt: Translating Witold Gombrowicz's Ferdydurke
- Short extract at UK publisher website
- Eva HoffmanEva HoffmanEva Hoffman is a writer and academic. She was born Ewa Wydra July 1, 1945 in Cracow, Poland after her Jewish parents survived the Holocaust by hiding in the Ukraine. In 1959, during the Cold War, the thirteen years old Eva, her nine years old sister "Alinka" and her parents immigrated to Vancouver,...
: Stream of Subconsciousness – review in New York Times 10 December 2000 - Overview at Polish Library
- Ferdydurke A. D. 1947: article about the publication of the Spanish translation in Argentina (PDF)
- YUP page with reviews
- Review of the play in 2001 NYT