before January 12, 1937

Warsaw. Józefina Szelińska,  Bruno Schulz’s fiancée attempts suicide.

Most probably Szelińska* is pushed to it by a prolonged difficult situation: a life-impoverishing job in the Central Statistical Office in Warsaw, solitude and no prospect of a relationship with Schulz. She takes a large dose of sleeping pills but just before she loses consciousness, she calls for help and is saved.  

It is not known how Schulz learnt about his fianceé’s attempted suicide but it is certain that he appeared almost immediately at her side. It was Schulz who on 22 January* prepared an application for convalescent leave signed by Szelińska1. In a letter to Tadeusz Breza* from 3 February 1937 Schulz refers to Szelińska’s situation: “Juna was very ill, then I became ill and had to stay in bed for ten days”2. 

Until her death, Szelińska consistently denies any suspicion of attempted suicide, describing it as “serious illness”3 or “a severe bout of flu”4. (rb) (transl. ms)

 

See also: end of 1932*, spring 1933*, summer 1933*, end of summer 1933*, December 1933*, end of 1935 / beginning of 1936*, 8 February 1936*, 22 January 1937*, [February] 1937*, February/March 1937*, 1940*, 11 July 1991*.

  • 1
    We should add that Szelińska extends the convalescent leave in February, March, July, August. She will never return to her job in the office and will terminate the contract on  31 December 1937.
  • 2
    Bruno Schulz’s letter to Tadeusz Breza from 3 February 1937, in: Bruno Schulz, Księga listów, compiled by Jerzy Ficowski, revised by Stanisław Danecki, Gdańsk 2016, p. 59.
  • 3
    Józefina Szelińska’s letter to Jerzy Ficowski from 5 September 1967.
  • 4
    Józefina Szelińska’s letter to Jerzy Ficowski from December 1985. Szelińska uses the expression in reference to the information published in Regina Silberner’s book. Schulz’s acquaintance wrote: “After some time, I left Warsaw. Then I heard some strange rumours about Schulz’s fianceé’s attempted suicide” (Regina Silberner, Strzępy wspomnień – przyczynek do biografii zewnętrznej Brunona Schulza, London 1984, p. 22).