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297:). The latter date was presented by Piasecki on several occasions, in order to mislead the authorities. He was an illegitimate son of an postmaster Michał Piasecki and servant Klaudia Kukałowicz. He was looked after by his stepmother Filomena Gruszewska, who bullied him physically and mentally. His family spoke exclusively in Russian at home and he didn't learn Polish language until his later imprisonment.
417:, Wańkowicz encouraged Piasecki to continue his writing efforts and helped him to publish the book. The publication and resulting popularity of the book became the catalyst for getting Piasecki out of prison. The book was published while Piasecki was still in prison, and its copy was delivered to his cell. The book sold out within a month, it was the third most popular publication of interwar Poland.
372:. After these plans failed, he took up robbery. He was arrested again and sentenced to death by a verdict of the Vilnius Field Court on January 9, 1930. His former supervisors from the intelligence have sought a reduced fine, and so instead of being executed, Piasecki ended up with 15 years imprisonment. His stay in the Lida prison was short. As a leader of a rebellion, he was moved to
348:
Polechoński himself after a search performed in
Vilnius archives. It is not possible to say whether his evacuation card is authentic. There is no photo of him in the prisoners' photo archives of Łukiszki penitentiary. There is no proof of his residency amongst the Vilnius city dwellers. He might have stayed in a hotel.
404:
Piasecki became a writer by chance. Later, he confessed that many prisoners in Wronki would write, so he decided to emulate them. As his knowledge of standard Polish was poor, he would learn from a school book of Polish grammar. Some time in either 1935 or 1936, his prison prose came to the attention
342:
In the monograph about his life, work and legend, researcher
Krzysztof Polechoński noted that most available data about Piasecki's whereabouts often do not correspond to reality, not to mention the claims made by the writer himself. Perhaps the discrepancies came from his work as intelligence agent,
603:
Thief's
Trilogy (Trylogia Złodziejska) - series of three books portraying life of criminal underworld in Minsk. Each takes place under different authorities: Polish, Nazi German and Soviet. All book titles are based on popular songs, first two being criminals and prison songs. The last title is a
367:
During this period, he served 21 months in
Novogrudok prison for his involvement in a clash between two smuggling gangs. This situation repeated again in 1926, Piasecki was again imprisoned and expelled from service. After his release from prison, he tried to interest French intelligence in his
300:
His childhood was very difficult because children at school mocked his Polish roots, calling him "Lach". Piasecki hated the
Russian school – as he later explained – and in the seventh grade, armed with a pistol attacked the teacher. Sentenced to jail, he escaped from prison, and thus his formal
347:
are not available and neither are the registers of houses in which he lived. His personal documents in possession of
Piasecki's son: such as the copy of a marriage certificate with Jadwiga Waszkiewicz or the birth certificate of his son Władysław Tomaszewicz are falsifications, as revealed by
529:. In 1947, Piasecki moved to England, his name can be found on a resolution of Union of Polish Writers in Exile, which urged all concerned to stop publishing in the Communist-occupied country. He once publicly declared that he would gladly take any job that would result in erasing Communism.
469:(he said he worked for its executive branch No 2, which – like many of his stories – was never confirmed), he had cooperated with the Polish resistance, and in 1943 became an executioner, carrying out capital punishment sentences handed down by underground Polish courts. His wartime
360:. Piasecki was also a smuggler, in order to both earn the money to finance his activities but also to have a cover up for them. Foreign spies as a rule were all executed by the Soviets, while smugglers were only incarcerated for a few years. As he wrote – he smuggled
208:, London) was one of the best known Belarusian-Polish writers of the mid 20th century. He was mainly portraying life of criminals and lowlifes of Minsk, which he knew very well, as well as work of Polish spies in Soviet Union and later the anti-Nazi conspiracy in
540:, who, together with his unit enters Poland on 17 September 1939. Zubov claims in his "diary" that his only purpose is to kill all the bourgeoisie who possess watches and bicycles. Piasecki became fluent in English as an adult. Sergiusz Piasecki died in 1964 in
580:(Kochanek Wielkiej Niedźwiedzicy) - action novel, describing life of smugglers on Polish-Soviet frontier. Written in prison in April 1935. Published for the first time by Towarzystwo Wydawnicze „Rój" in 1939. Translated to English by John Mann and published by
424:
pardoned him. The day of his release was sensational, crowds of journalists were waiting at a gate, and
Piasecki himself was shocked at technical novelties, such as radio, which had become common since 1926. In late 1937 and early 1938, Piasecki went to
573:
The Fifth Stage (Piąty Etap) - autobiographical novel about work of a spy on Polish - Soviet frontier. Written in prison in April 1934. Published for the first time by
Towarzystwo Wydawnicze „Rój" in 1938.
501:, falsely accused of cooperating with the Germans. However, Piasecki refused to kill him, and later it was revealed that Mackiewicz's accusations had been made up by the Soviets.
820:
945:
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Living abroad, Piasecki did not stop writing. In late 1940s he came to the conclusion that humor was the best weapon to fight the
Communists. So, he wrote a satire
600:
One
Hundred Questions addressed to the 'nowadays' Warsaw (Sto pytań pod adresem „obecnej” Warszawy) - political memorial. Written in 1946, published in 1947, Rome.
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Due to popularity of the book, Wańkowicz's efforts to release Piasecki were supported by other writers and lawyers. Finally, in 1937 president
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From 7 April 1920 to 10 January 1921 he studied in army officers school Infantry Officer Cadet School in Warsaw. Later he took part in
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Soon before his death, Sergiusz Piasecki started working on the last chapter which would conclude the series with years 1943 to 1945.
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437:, who painted his portrait. Being a celebrity, he avoided meeting with numerous readers, neither did he like signing of books.
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and anti-Nazi German conspiracy during Second World War in Vilnius Region. (London, Polska Fundacja Kulturalna 1964)
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323:" organisation. He cooperated with Polish army that was entering Minsk at that time, getting himself wounded.
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465:, but refused and decided to stay in his occupied homeland. Even though he had never been a member of the
220:
654:
392:. As he was regarded a troublesome prisoner, he was often kept in isolation ward, where he got sick with
327:
915:
369:
406:
880:
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629:
Shreds of Legend (Strzęp Legendy) - short story about Nazi German occupation of Poland (London, 1949)
458:
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and watched his close friends' deaths. It was then that his disgust with communist ideology started.
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were "Sucz", "Kira" and "Konrad". Later, he wrote two books about his war activities. These are
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Adam and Ewa (Adam i Ewa) - story of a difficult love of two people during the war of 1939 in
545:
282:
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822:Żywot człowieka uzbrojonego. Biografia, twórczość i legenda literacka Sergiusza Piaseckiego.
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Road to a wall (Drogą pod mur) - autobiography of his childhood written in jail in may 1937.
581:
461:, to fight the Soviets. During the occupation of Poland, he was offered a chance to move to
357:
801:
775:
597:
to the Fifth Stage. 1938 Towarzystwo Wydawnicze „Rój". 1989 Towarzystwo Wydawnicze „Graf”.
334:, as his language skills (he spoke Russian and Belarusian fluently) were highly regarded.
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In early 1920s, Piasecki organized a whole web of Polish agents, covering the area of
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but there is no way to confirm many of his personal stories. Piasecki's addresses in
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794:
622:
Lucifer's Seven Pills (7 Pigułek Lucyfera) - grotesque satire about first years of
330:
of 1920. He was demobilised on 12 May 1921. Afterwards, he was asked to join Polish
393:
235:
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140:
795:"Na tropach bohaterów powieści Józefa Mackiewicza. Nazywał się Sergiusz Piasecki."
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384:. Finally, Piasecki was transferred to the hardest prison in Poland, located in
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409:, who toured Polish prisons as a reporter. After reading a manuscript of
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In the summer of 1939 Piasecki went to Wilno where he stayed during the
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525:. Soon, he got in touch with Polish writers living in exile, including
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became again one of the best selling books in the country according to
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132:
635:(Zapiski Oficera Armii Czerwonej) - satire about Soviet occupation of
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536:, which presents a made-up diary of Mishka Zubov - an officer of the
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677:(Człowiek Przemieniony w Wilka) - conspiracy in years 1939 to 1942.
657:(London, B. Świderski 1962; first version written in jail in 1935).
643:, seen from perspective of indoctrinated Russian soldier. (London,
587:
Red haired Ewa (Ruda Ewa) - short story written in prison in 1936.
558:
550:
514:
439:
316:
278:
617:
There are no supreme saviours (Nikt nie da nam zbawienia) - 1947.
640:
273:
Sergiusz Piasecki was born on 1 April 1901 (or 1 June 1899) in
227:, Piasecki's books were banned by communist censorship in the
219:, published in 1937, was the third most popular novel in the
664:(Wileńszczyźna) (published in chapters in a newspaper, 1963)
82:
457:
in World War II. In September 1939, he volunteered to the
548:, England, it is said that he was born on 1 June 1899.
513:
for a year inside Poland. In April 1946, he escaped to
517:, where he spotted the Italian translation of his own
614:
I will look in a window (Spojrze ja w okno) - 1947.
376:. There, he incited another riot, and was moved to
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769:"Stoczony do poziomu literata. Sergiusz Piasecki."
497:). Among those who he was ordered to execute, was
212:; he had personal experience in both matters.
851:Sergiusza Piaseckiego droga do „Wieży Babel.”
653:- story of a demobilised veteran of the 1920
555:Sergiusz Piasecki's grave - Hastings Cemetery
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519:
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260:, had already been reprinted several times.
608:. Published in Rome by Instytut Literacki.
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843:
805:Magazyn Wileński. Pismo Polaków na Litwie.
593:Night's Gods' Equals (Bogom Nocy Równi) -
544:at the age of 65. On his tomb, located in
364:to the USSR, taking furs back to Poland.
304:After he run away from jain, he headed to
18:
444:Portrait of Sergiusz Piasecki by Witkacy
352:Work for the Polish intelligence service
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946:Prisoners sentenced to death by Poland
687:execution squad activity 1942 to 1943.
563:Sergiusz Piasecki commemorative plaque
433:, to recuperate. Among others, he met
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405:of a famous novelist and journalist,
248:daily newspaper. His other novel, an
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102:Writer, spy, army officer, soldier,
931:Polish prisoners sentenced to death
926:Polish people of Belarusian descent
16:Russian-born Polish-British writer
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633:The Memoirs of a Red Army Officer
534:The memoirs of a Red Army officer
509:After the war, Piasecki hid from
319:, as a member of the Belarusian "
257:The Memoirs of a Red Army Officer
582:George Routledge & Sons, LTD
29:
521:Kochanek Wielkiej Niedzwiedzicy
413:Kochanek Wielkiej Niedzwiedzicy
177:Zapiski oficera Armii Czerwonej
169:Kochanek Wielkiej Niedzwiedzicy
681:For Honour of the Organisation
368:services and to leave for the
193:[ˈsɛrɡʲuʂpjaˈsɛt͡skʲi]
1:
626:after the war. (London, 1948)
215:His novel written in prison,
951:Recipients of Polish pardons
941:Burials at Hastings Cemetery
667:Babel Tower (Wieża Babel) -
921:20th-century Polish writers
683:(Dla honoru Organizacji) -
229:People's Republic of Poland
967:
651:The Life of a Disarmed Man
234:After the collapse of the
64:(now Lyakhavichy, Belarus)
891:People from Slutsky Uyezd
849:Sławomir Andruszkiewicz,
611:Apple (Jabłuszko) - 1946.
28:
675:A Man Turned into a Wolf
669:Polish Underground State
624:Polish People's Republic
145:Polish Underground State
901:Belarusian male writers
886:People from Lyakhavichy
819:Krzysztof Polechoński,
767:Andrzej Rafał Potocki,
449:World War II activities
315:In 1919 he traveled to
308:, where he experienced
240:Lover of the Great Bear
217:Lover of the Great Bear
911:Polish anti-communists
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221:Second Polish Republic
35:Piasecki (before 1939)
645:Gryf Publications LTD
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189:Polish pronunciation:
131:Criminal underworld,
906:Polish crime writers
748:www.ipsb.nina.gov.pl
459:Border Defence Corps
896:Polish male writers
744:"Sergiusz Piasecki"
800:2009-06-09 at the
774:2011-07-23 at the
606:The Internationale
604:phrase taken from
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483:The Tower of Babel
455:invasion of Poland
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407:Melchior Wańkowicz
310:October Revolution
238:, in early 1990s,
123:Novel, short story
936:Home Army members
793:Alwida A. Bajor,
703:Polish literature
655:Polish–Soviet War
546:Hastings Cemetery
511:the secret police
400:Writing in prison
328:Polish–Soviet War
301:education ended.
283:Northwestern Krai
185:Sergiusz Piasecki
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151:Literary movement
93:Hastings Cemetery
72:12 September 1964
58:Minsk Governorate
23:Sergiusz Piasecki
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287:Russian Empire
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916:Polish spies
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807:Since 1990.
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752:. Retrieved
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568:Bibliography
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495:Adam and Eve
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223:. Following
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141:Soviet Union
74:(1964-09-12)
51:1 April 1901
881:1964 deaths
876:1901 births
858:(in Polish)
809:(in Polish)
783:(in Polish)
750:(in Polish)
477:Wieża Babel
338:Ambiguities
250:Anti-Soviet
202:Baranowicze
173:Wieża Babel
110:Nationality
870:Categories
754:2024-02-07
709:References
578:Great Bear
489:Adam i Ewa
281:, then in
275:Lachowicze
269:Early life
198:Lachowicze
196:; 1901 in
99:Occupation
54:Lachowicze
47:1901-04-01
854:Nasz Czas
685:Home Army
467:Home Army
386:Łysa Góra
264:Biography
155:Modernism
137:espionage
798:Archived
772:Archived
697:See also
584:in 1938.
538:Red Army
431:Zakopane
378:Koronowo
104:smuggler
435:Witkacy
362:cocaine
345:Vilnius
295:Belarus
285:of the
133:smuggle
128:Subject
833:
647:1957).
595:sequel
542:London
485:) and
463:France
427:Otwock
390:Kielce
382:Wronki
374:Rawicz
306:Moscow
253:satire
206:Penley
114:Polish
79:London
779:Życie
637:Wilno
515:Italy
388:near
321:White
317:Minsk
289:(now
279:Minsk
210:Wilno
200:near
120:Genre
831:ISBN
641:Lida
639:and
429:and
69:Died
41:Born
826:PWN
872::
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842:^
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717:^
396:.
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231:.
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143:,
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83:UK
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45:(
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