16 February 1992, Sunday

This is an extensive, multi-page interview about literary and artistic masters of Ficowski, in particular about Bruno Schulz. The conversation took place as part of the celebrations of the Schulz Year (1992), of the 100th anniversary of his birth*, the fiftieth anniversary of his death*, and the fiftieth anniversary* of the beginning of the interviewee’s fascination with Schulz. 

The conversation begins with a reminder of the origins of this passion and the history of the letter that Ficowski sent “to Schulz the Wizard [...] – having no idea who he is and what is happening to him”¹. Later in the interview, Ficowski also shares a reflection on the nature of his research activity, presenting it as a personal adventure of a follower, rather than a cool work of a researcher-analyst. 

Most of the conversation is devoted to the search of Schulz material Ficowski was engaged in. The author of Regiony wielkiej herezji taks about the fate of Schulz’s letters to Władysław Riff* and Debora Vogel*, about his research in the archives of Thomas Mann*, as well as the fate of letters held in the drawers of Artur Sandauer*. Ficowski also mentions his three trips to Drogobych*: in 1959*, 1965* and 1990*. He hopes for new discoveries related to the search for “frescoes” * in the so-called Landau* villa and in the archive of Józefina Szelińska. He also talks about Szelińska’s life, her relationship with Schulz and her decision to conceal her identity. 

The next part of the interview discusses the presence of Schulz in the present world, and the fascination with Schulz other writers have expressed (including Danilo Kiš*, Cynthia Ozick*, Bohumil Hrabal*, Florin Mugur*), as well as plans to celebrate the Schulz Year. 

Schulz is the subject of the largest part of the interview, two other masters of Jerzy Ficowski: Witold Wojtkiewicz and Bolesław Leśmian* are discussed to a lesser extent. (mr) (transl. mw)

See also: 1 March 1992*.