(Nie)obecność literatury chorwackiej w Polsce – okres międzywojenny

Abstract

The interwar period was the first time that through translations and the reception of foreign literatures, cultural contacts became the subject of global interest for state foreign policy. Croatian literature was one of the literatures of the first Yugoslavia, and at that time Polish-Yugoslav political relations were strong enough for creating cultural bonds. The South Slavs and Yugoslavia were a relatively popular theme in periodical publications, although this popularity did not influence in any way the number of Polish translations and the reception of Croatian literature. The best time for Croatian-Polish literary contacts was the time of Julije Benešić’s (1930-1938) stay in Poland, the most important person and sui generis institution in the field of Polish translations of the literatures of Yugoslavia and also Croatian translations of Polish literary works. Benešić’s work is outstanding, but it didn’t change the fact that the number of translations of Croatian literary works is very small when compared with those of other literatures. Writings about Croatian literature and culture are rare as well. There are several reasons why Croatian literature was absent in Poland in the interwar period, the most important being the type of books translated (classical and historical ones while the Polish audience was interested in contemporary and modern works), political and economic situation (the economic crisis of the 1930s, the politicization of cultural life, and the growth of nationalism and totalitarianism in the 1930s).