Jan Lechoń

Leszek Józef Serafinowicz (pen name Jan Lechoń) (b. March 13, 1899 in Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire d. June 8, 1956, New York City) was a Polish poet, literary and theatre critic, diplomat, and co-founder of the Skamander literary movement.

Life

He studied polish literature and language at the Warsaw University, by which point he had already authored two collections of poetry and a play. He was co-editor of the "Pro arte et studio" magazine. It was he who thought of the name "Skamander" for the literary grouping; he also held the opening speech at the group's first meeting on December 6, 1919. During the Polish-Soviet War he worked at the press office of Chief of state Józef Piłsudski. He was a member of the literary cabaret "Pikador", member of the Worker's Union of Polish Writers, and secretary general of the PEN Club. In 1926-1929 he was editor of the satirical magazine "Cyrulik Warszawski" (Polish for "The Barber of Warsaw", a reference to "The Barber of Seville"). In 1925 he received an award from the Polish Book Publishers' Association, and in 1935 a further award from the Polish Literature Academy. He was also co-founder of the Polish Institute of Sciences.

From 1930 to 1939 he was cultural attaché at the Polish embassy in Paris. After the fall of France to the Nazi Germany, he left for Brazil, and later settled in New York, USA. While in New York he co-edited many Polish newspapers and magazines.

He committed suicide by jumping from the twelfth floor of the Henry Hudson Hotel. The motive given was "community degradation", which deepened his depression (Lechoń was allegedly oppressed by the Polonia for his homosexualism,Fact|date=August 2008 however the memories of his friend, Adam Ciołkosz do not mention this, thus the reason was presumed to be depression caused by the strengthening of the communist regime in Poland). In 1991 the remains of the poet were exhumed from the Calvary Cemetery in Queens and moved to a cemetery in Laski, to a family tomb shared with his parents, Władysław and Maria Serafinowicz.

Work

He made his literary debut at the age of 14 with poetry collections entitled "Na złotym polu" (1913, "In a golden field") and "Po różnych ścieżkach" (1914, "On different paths"). In 1916, his drama "W pałacu Stanisława Augusta" ("At the palace of Stanisław August") premiered at the Old Orangery in Warsaw. His poetry collection "Srebrne i czarne" ("Silver and black") earned him an award from the Polish Book Publishers' Association. However, growing interest in Lechoń's work and his successes in the field of poetry negatively influenced him. He found his growing status as a legend overwhelming and didn't publish further until the outbreak of World War II. Poland's demise awakened in him the passion to continue writing. He published "Lutnia po Bekwarku" in 1942 and "Aria z kurantem" in 1945, as well as "Marmur i róża". Other works include "Karmazynowy poemat" and "Iliada".

His poetry combined romantic and classicist elements, and was different from that of other Skamander members. He also translated several dramas, wrote reviews and essays.