JASTRUN (Agatstein), MIECZYSLAW

JASTRUN (Agatstein), MIECZYSLAW (1903–1983), Polish poet, essayist, and translator. Born in Korolówka, Jastrun was one of the Skamander literary group. Philosophical reflection dominated such pre-World War ii collections as Spotkanie w czasie ("Meeting in Time," 1929), Inna m?odo?? ("Another Youth," 1933), and Strumie? i milczenie ("Stream and Silence," 1937). During the years 1945–49, he was coeditor of the literary weekly Ku?nica. From the end of World War ii his verse reflected the period of the Holocaust, notably in Godzina strze?ona ("The Guarded Hour," 1944), Rzecz ludzka ("Human Matter," 1946), Sezon w Alpach ("Season in the Alps," 1948), Rok urodzaju ("The Fertile Year," 1950), and Barwy ziemi ("Colors of Earth," 1951). Jastrun also wrote three biographical novels on great Polish poets: Mickiewicz (1949, 1967¹¹; Eng. tr. 1955; Heb. tr. 1956); Spotkanie z Salome? ("Meeting with Salomea," 1951), on the poet Juliusz Slowacki; and Poeta i dworzanin ("The Poet and the Courtier," 1954), on the poet Jan Kochanowski. His volumes of essays include: Dzienniki i wspomnienia ("Diaries and Memoirs," 1955); Wizerunki: Szkice literackie ("Images: Literary Essays," 1956), on Polish and foreign writers; and Mit ?ródziemnomorski ("Mediterranean Myth," 1962). Selections of his verse were published in 1966 and 1968. Jastrun also edited Poezja M?odej Polski ("The Poetry of Young Poland," 1967), Wolnos? Wyboru "Freedom of Choice," essays, 1969) and God?a pami?ci ("Memorials," poetry, 1969). Among Jastrun's outstanding translations are those from the works of Lorca, Pushkin, and Rilke. An independently minded Communist, Jastrun was one of the authors of the Manifest trzydziestu czterech ("Manifesto of the 34," 1964) against the cultural policy of the Polish Communist Party and government.

bibliography:

J. Trznadel, O poezji Mieczys?awa Jastruna (1954); A. Sandauer, Poeci trzech pokole? (1962²), ch. 8.

[Stanislaw Wygodzki]