Censorship of Literature in Post-War Poland

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This work reconstructs and presents methods of literature censorship in post-war Poland from 1945 to 1956, drawing on confidential Bulletins for censors. These periodicals, directed at censorship officials, serve as the primary source material. The first part explores the Bulletins' characteristics, goals, and structure, culminating in a definition of their role within the censorship office. The second part depicts the literary landscape during this era, highlighting how the Bulletins provided guidance for censorship practices, discussing literary texts and examples of works that either succeeded or failed to pass scrutiny. The focus on these often-overlooked Bulletins marks a significant contribution to censorship research. The author's extensive effort in producing this text, particularly amid challenging circumstances, is commendable. This publication offers foreign readers insight into the mechanisms of control and repression in Poland during the Stalinist period and enhances understanding of Polish literature from that time. The English translation of this monograph, grounded in rich source material, is poised to advance research on communist censorship in Central and Eastern Europe, facilitating comparative analysis.