Henryk Jasiczek
Encyclopedia
Henryk Jasiczek was a Polish journalist, poet, writer, and activist from the Zaolzie
region. He is considered one of the most important Polish writers from Zaolzie after World War II
and one of the most popular local Polish poets.
Jasiczek was born in Kottingbrunn
near Vienna
, Austria
as an extramarital child. He spent his childhood in Oldrzychowice
near Trzyniec
. Since 1934 he studied horticulture
in Trzyniec, where, as later remembered, witnessed the worst forms of labour exploitation of workers. In 1936 defended one apprentice who had been beaten by the supervisor and bashed the supervisor himself. In consequence he left and finished horticultural studies in Chrudim
, only to work later for a gardener in Hradečno
. In 1938 he came back to Zaolzie but wasn't able to find a job. Since March 1939 Jasiczek worked in the Třinec Iron and Steel Works
as a worker.
During World War II
he was engaged in Polish leftist resistance, where he worked in the underground press and distributed illegal press. After the war he joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
and became editor-in-chief of Głos Ludu newspaper. He remained in this position until 1957. Jasiczek graduated from a journalism department of the Charles' University in Prague
in 1960. He contributed to Polish children magazines and to Zwrot
, a Polish cultural and literary magazine. Jasiczek was also an active member of the Polish Cultural and Educational Union
, where he directed its Literary-Artistic Section (SLA) from 1945 to 1968.
During the Prague Spring
, Jasiczek firmly supported the reformist wing of the Communist Party
. His stances and their public manifestations led to his expulsion from public life in May 1970. Jasiczek spent the last years of his life in seclusion and was forced to work in the printing works as a proofreader. He died on 8 December 1976 in a hospital in Český Těšín
(Czeski Cieszyn). Henryk Jasiczek was exonerated in 1990.
Right after World War II his poetry focused on social issues. Eventually Jasiczek concentrated on folk and natural motives of regional nature. His lyric poetry is full of melancholy and appreciation of the natural beauties of his region, mostly the Beskids
mountain ranges.
Jasiczek's adoration of natural beauties of his region, particularly the Beskids
can be seen for example in Nie zdradzę (I Will not Betray) poem from Obuszkiem ciosane (Cut with Cudgel) poetry collection.
Zaolzie
Zaolzie is the Polish name for an area now in the Czech Republic which was disputed between interwar Poland and Czechoslovakia. The name means "lands beyond the Olza River"; it is also called Śląsk zaolziański, meaning "trans-Olza Silesia". Equivalent terms in other languages include Zaolší in...
region. He is considered one of the most important Polish writers from Zaolzie after 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...
and one of the most popular local Polish poets.
Jasiczek was born in Kottingbrunn
Kottingbrunn
Kottingbrunn is a town in the district of Baden in Lower Austria in Austria....
near Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
as an extramarital child. He spent his childhood in Oldrzychowice
Oldrichovice (Trinec)
is a village in Frýdek-Místek District, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. It was a separate municipality but became administratively a part of Třinec in 1980. It has a population of 3,182 . and lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia. Tyrka flows through the village.- References :...
near Trzyniec
Trinec
Třinec is a town in Frýdek-Místek District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Olza River, in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia. The town has 37,405 inhabitants as of 2009, in 2001 17.7% of the population were Poles...
. Since 1934 he studied horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
in Trzyniec, where, as later remembered, witnessed the worst forms of labour exploitation of workers. In 1936 defended one apprentice who had been beaten by the supervisor and bashed the supervisor himself. In consequence he left and finished horticultural studies in Chrudim
Chrudim
Chrudim is a city in eastern Bohemia, in the Pardubice region of the Czech Republic.The oldest archaeological findings which provide first signs of the settlement in this area date back to the 5th millennium BC. Various cultures succeeded one on another in the territory of today’s town of Chrudim...
, only to work later for a gardener in Hradečno
Hradečno
Hradečno is a village and municipality in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. -References:*This article was initially translated from the Czech Wikipedia....
. In 1938 he came back to Zaolzie but wasn't able to find a job. Since March 1939 Jasiczek worked in the Třinec Iron and Steel Works
Trinec Iron and Steel Works
Třinec Iron and Steel Works is a producer of long rolled steel products in Třinec, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. TŽ produces over a third of all steel produced in the Czech Republic . Since its establishment, Třinecké železárny's plants have produced more than 150 million tons of...
as a worker.
During 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...
he was engaged in Polish leftist resistance, where he worked in the underground press and distributed illegal press. After the war he joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
and became editor-in-chief of Głos Ludu newspaper. He remained in this position until 1957. Jasiczek graduated from a journalism department of the Charles' University in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
in 1960. He contributed to Polish children magazines and to Zwrot
Zwrot
Zwrot is the main and largest Polish magazine in the Czech Republic, chief magazine of the Polish minority in Zaolzie. It appears monthly, with a circulation of 1,700 . Published by the PZKO , it is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic...
, a Polish cultural and literary magazine. Jasiczek was also an active member of the Polish Cultural and Educational Union
Polish Cultural and Educational Union
Polski Związek Kulturalno-Oświatowy is a Polish organization in the Czech Republic. It represents the Polish minority in the Czech Republic together with the Congress of Poles...
, where he directed its Literary-Artistic Section (SLA) from 1945 to 1968.
During the Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
, Jasiczek firmly supported the reformist wing of the Communist Party
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
. His stances and their public manifestations led to his expulsion from public life in May 1970. Jasiczek spent the last years of his life in seclusion and was forced to work in the printing works as a proofreader. He died on 8 December 1976 in a hospital in Český Těšín
Ceský Tešín
Český Těšín is a town in the Karviná District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is commonly known in the region as just Těšín . It lies on the west bank of the Olza River, in the heart of the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia...
(Czeski Cieszyn). Henryk Jasiczek was exonerated in 1990.
Right after World War II his poetry focused on social issues. Eventually Jasiczek concentrated on folk and natural motives of regional nature. His lyric poetry is full of melancholy and appreciation of the natural beauties of his region, mostly the Beskids
Beskids
The Beskids , ) is a traditional name for a series of Eastern European mountain ranges.- Definition :The Beskids are approximately 600 km in length and 50–70 km in width...
mountain ranges.
Jasiczek's adoration of natural beauties of his region, particularly the Beskids
Beskids
The Beskids , ) is a traditional name for a series of Eastern European mountain ranges.- Definition :The Beskids are approximately 600 km in length and 50–70 km in width...
can be seen for example in Nie zdradzę (I Will not Betray) poem from Obuszkiem ciosane (Cut with Cudgel) poetry collection.
Works
- Rozmowy z ciszą (1948) - poetry collection
- Pochwała życia (1952)
- Gwiazdy nad Beskidem (1953) - poetry collection
- Obuszkiem ciosane (1955) - poetry collection
- Jaśminowe noce (1959) - poetry collection
- Humoreski beskidzkie (1959) - prose
- Poetyckie pozdrowienia (1961) - poetry collection
- Morze Czarne jest błękitne (1961) - travel report
- Krásné jak housle (1962)
- Blizny pamięci (1963)
- Przywiozę ci krokodyla (1965) - travel report
- Pokus o smír (1967)
- Baj, baju z mojego kraju (1968) - poetry collection for children
- Zamyślenie (1969)
- Smuga cienia (1981) - posthumous selection of poetry
- Jak ten obłok (1990) - posthumous selection of poetry
- Wiersze (2006) - posthumous selection of poetry