To grasp what’s lost: ‘Small tomb stones’ from Melbourne Cover Image

Uchwycić stratę, albo „kamyki cmentarne” z Melbourne
To grasp what’s lost: ‘Small tomb stones’ from Melbourne

Author(s): Katarzyna Kwapisz Williams
Subject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Foreign languages learning, Studies of Literature, Polish Literature, Western Slavic Languages, Culture and social structure
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Australia; life writing; migration; poetry

Summary/Abstract: Migration always involves loss, which inspires potential writers and is itself often the focus of migrants’ narratives. Seen through this monodimensional attachment to things left behind and hence not particularly valued, written and unwritten stories of migrants’ experiences are themselves prone to disappear, together with the memory of their authors. This paper examines the work of a biographer and poet, Bogumiła Żongołłowicz, commited to recovering and preserving achievements of Polish post-war migrants in Australia, reclaiming forgotten or unappreciated literary works for future readers, and celebrating life and memory of those who would otherwise perish as well.

  • Issue Year: 17/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 81-96
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Polish