Julian Przyboś

Who was Julian Przyboś?

Julian Przyboś was a Polish poet, essayist and translator, one of the most important poets of Kraków Avantgarde.

He was born in Gwoźnica near Strzyżów to a peasant family. Since 1912 attended gymnasium in Rzeszów. In 1920 took part in fights against Soviet Russia during the Polish-Soviet War. In 1920-1923 studied Polish studies at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and later worked as a teacher in Sokal, Chrzanów and Cieszyn. During his stay in Cieszyn Przyboś published his works in Zaranie Śląskie. He also published in many other magazines before and after the war.

In December 1939 Przyboś relocated to Lwów and in 1941 was arrested by Gestapo, Nazi German secret police. After World War II he became a member of the Polish Workers' Party, and later the Polish United Workers' Party. In 1947-1951 worked as a diplomat in Switzerland and later became director of the Jagiellonian Library in Kraków. After the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 Przyboś left the Polish United Workers' Party.