The Polemic Over the Polish Academy of Literature

The Polish Academy of Literature functioned in the period 1933–1939 and was established by the government in order to realise the programme of ‘nationalisation’ of literature. It should be noted though, its formation resulted first and foremost from demands put forward by writers since the beginning of the 20th century, who had been demanding the establishment of the Academy from the moment Poland regained its independence in 1918. The most coherent project of the Academy was presented in 1918 by Stefan Żeromski, which proved to be a constant point of reference for others involved in the polemic. Most called for the Academy to be a non-governmental institution, but one funded by the government as a means of preserving the high prestige of literature and the symbolic capital of the profession – as well as improving and stabilising the material situation of writers after the Great War.Praca powstała w ramach projektu badawczego NPRH nr 11H 16 0131 84