Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki

Adam Franciszek Józef Siedlecki or Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki (AGS) (1876–1967) was a Polish literary and theater critic, playwright, translator, prose writer and director.

Biography Congress Poland period Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki was born into an impoverished noble family on 29 January 1876 in Wierzbno, near Kraków, then part of the Russian Empire. His mother was named Julia, née Pieprzak-Czaykowski. His father, Leon, a commune writer, took part to the 1863 January uprising.

Adam graduated from secondary school in Warsaw. He then started to study at the Wawelberg and Rotwand's School of Engineering in 1894, but had to drop off in 1896, after being jailed at the dreaded Tenth Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel for participating in illegal Polish self-education clubs. After his release, he moved to Kraków to follow mathematics and Polish at the Jagiellonian University.

His first articles date back to 1896, with a review in the Warsaw paper Dziennik dla szystkich.

In Bydgoszcz, he devoted his time to writing. He mainly created comedies and farces played in theaters. His most popular pieces from this period are: After 1926, he acted against the Sanacja political regime. In May 1923, AGS contributed with 50,000 marks for the garrison church. The entrepreneur Antoni Weynerowski and his wife Leokadia donated 500,000 marks.

He worked on a sketch encompassing the History of Bydgoszcz from the earliest times. Underlining the underrated significance of the city, he championed on the one hand its incorporation into the Pomeranian Voivodeship and on the other hand the transfer of provincial authorities from Toruń to Bydgoszcz. In particular, he conveyed these messages, in response to a Toruń publication, in the polemical brochure "Pomorze czy Toruń?" (Pomerania or Toruń?) published in 1937. However, in 1945, the City Council handed it over back to the Soviet Union as a gift from the Polish People's Republic.

In 1934, he left Bydgoszcz to Warsaw. A year later, he published a book about Ludwik Solski for his jubilee and in 1938, he prepared a biographic film script about Solski, "Geniusz sceny" (Genius of the scene).

German occupation During the 1939 invasion of Poland, Grzymała-Siedlecki was in Warsaw: from the beginning of the occupation, he was watched and followed by the Gestapo. In 1940–1941, he worked as a clerk in the Council of the Central Welfare . In February 1940, he was interrogated in connection with anti-German articles published before the war in the polish press (Kurier Warszawski and Kurier Poznański). He was even arrested on the night of 10 November 1942 and jailed in Warsaw Pawiak prison. Released in February 1943, he moved to hiding in Bielany, near Grójec, where the conditions of his imprisonment weakened him for a long time.

As an account of his experiences and observations from his stay in Pawiak prison, Adam wrote in 1944, "111 dni letargu. Wspomnienia z Pawiaka z lat 1942–1943" (111 days of lethargy. Memories from Pawiak prison in 1942–1943). The poet Ludwik Hieronim Morstin praised this book as "A shocking book, which, thanks to its humanism and proximity to a suffering man, is especially valuable to anyone who pursues some purpose in life." (correspondence with the author, 18 October 1965).

Post-war period In April 1945, he settled back to Bydgoszcz. He got a position at the Department of Culture and Art of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Office, as a voivodship counselor, head of the Literature and Theater Department, until 1949.

Meanwhile, he contributed to diverse institutions in Bydgoszcz: lecturer at the Bydgoszcz Dramatic School established at 4 Cieszkowskiego Street (1945–1947); theater history lecturer in the Theatre instructors and directors school for Volunteers (1949–1952); literary director at the Polski Teatr in Bydgoszcz (1946–1960).

Between 1948 and 1958, Grzymała-Siedlecki directed many plays in the city: "Przyjaciele" (Friends); "Powrót posła" (Return of the envoy); "Magazyn mód"; "Intryga i miłość" (Intrigue and love); "Wesele" (Wedding). In 1961, he received the title of Honorary director of the Polski Teatr in Bydgoszcz, commemorating the 65th anniversary of his first writing and the 50th anniversary of his theatrical career.

Similarly to his previous stay, he initiated many cultural activities in Bydgoszcz. He was still working as a columnist and literary critic with journals Ilustrowany Kurier Polski and Tygodnik Warszawski(1945–1946) initially. Later on, he cooperated with a multitude of others: Arkona, Łodz Teatralna, Odnowy, Ziemia Pomorska, Żołnierz Polski, Życie Literackie, Twórczość, Tygodnik Powszechny, Teatr, Pamiętnik Teatralny or Pomerania.

He devoted enthusiastically his time to literary work. While in Bydgoszcz, Grzymała-Siedlecki wrote various works: books: "Wesele pani du Barry" (Madame du Barry's Wedding), "Matka i kurtyzana" (Mother and Courtesan), "Rekin i syrena" (The Shark and the Mermaid); Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki's tombstone"Niepospolici ludzie w dniu swoim powszednim" (Uncommon people in their weekday) (1961), "Na orbicie Melpomeny" (In orbit around Melpomene) (1966), "Tadeusz Pawlikowski i jego krakowscy aktorzy" (Tadeusz Pawlikowski and his Krakow actors) published posthumously (1971).

He was still interested in political affairs. In 1945, he joined the Labour Faction and took part in the work of the Polski Komitet Obrońców Pokoju (Polish Committee for the Defenders of Peace).

Personal life Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki was married to Maria Szumowska. They had a son, Jacek, a lawyer.

Adam died on 29 January 1967 in Bydgoszcz. He was buried at Bydgoszcz Nowofarny cemetery.

During his second stay, he lived at 5 Libelta street. On 29 January 1968 the Provincial and Municipal Public Library opened an Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki Memorial in the place, tended as a small museum in his memory.

The place exhibits the writer's memorabilia and some materials concerning the history of the theater in Bydgoszcz: posters, programs and photos from theater plays. The flat also houses a theater reading room with a rich book collection devoted to the History of theatre and the Polish theater in particular.

In addition to the aforementioned, Grzymała-Siedlecki published literary studies and critical articles in the following papers or magazines: Młodość, Życie, Krytyka, Sfinks, Museion, Tygodnik Ilustrowany, Słowo Polski, Czasie, Dziennik Poznański, Rzeczpospolita, Kurier Warszawski.

In complement of the above-mentioned works, Grzymała-Siedlecki also wrote: "Stanisław Wyspiański. Cechy i elementy jego twórczości" (Stanisław Wyspiański. Elements of his work) (1909, 2nd edition in 1918); studies about Aleksander Fredro (in "Trzy po trzy"-1917), about Władysław Reymont (in "Pisma"-1921), on the aesthetics of Zygmunt Krasiński (in "Myśli o sztuce"-1912), about Adam Szymański (in "Szkicy"-1921); chapters from the monographs about Aleksander Fredro in magazines; novel "Galeria moich bliźnich" (The Gallery of My Neighbors) (1911, 2nd edition in 1922); comedies and farces: "Podatek majątkowy" (Property tax) (1929), "Maman do wzięcia" (Maman to take) (1929), "Pani ministrowa" (Lady Minister) (1930), "Ich synowa" (Their daughter-in-law) (1931) and others.

Awards and decorations Literary Awards Leon Reynel's award for his lifetime achievements (1934); City of Bydgoszcz award for lifetime creative literary work with particular stress on his dramatic achievements at the Bydgoszcz Polski Teatr (1956); Bydgoszcz Voivodeship prize for lifetime activity in the field of theater and literature, in particular for his books (1957); Władysław Pietrzak award (1964).

Decorations Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta, 4 April 1956, in connection with the 60th anniversary of literary activity in the field of drama and theater critic; Gold Cross of Merit, 15 June 1946, for outstanding achievements in the field of Theater and Art throughout the country; Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature, 4 November 1937, for outstanding literary work; Badge of Meritorious Activist of Culture (1966); Honorary badge of Bydgoszcz – Meritorious Citizen (1960);

Honorary badge for special contributions to the development of the Bydgoszcz Province.

Commemorations In 1984, a television movie was shot, inspired by Adam's war memoirs, 111 dni letargu. Wspomnienia z Pawiaka z lat 1942–1943. It was titled 111 dni letargu.

Director was Jerzy Sztwiertnia, the actor Władysław Kowalski played the role of Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki.

One of the streets of Bydgoszcz was named after him, located in the Wyżyny district.

A commemorative plaque designed by Michał Kubiak has been unveiled in 1988, on the frontage of his apartment in Libelta Street, Bydgoszcz.