Przemysaw Czapliski, Recovering the Holocaust: Polish Literature of the 1990s in the face of the Shoah To paraphrase Theodor

W. Adornos memorable query, how can one li e ha in! read abou" "he #olocaus"$ Con"rary "o wha" has been commonly assumed, "he philosopher ne er said "ha" poe"ry was no lon!er possible a%"er Auschwi"z& wha" he said was "ha" li%e a%"er Auschwi"z was no" possible. 'lsewhere in his wri"in!s, Adorno wro"e "ha" las"in! su%%erin! has as much ri!h" "o e(pression as "he "or"ured ha e "o screamin!, hence i" would be %allacious "o "hink "ha" no poe"ry could be wri""en a%"er Auschwi"z. There is no %allacy, howe er ) Adcorno emphasized ) in "he less cul"ure)rela"ed ques"ion* +s i" s"ill possible "o li e a%"er Auschwi"z., #al% a cen"ury a%"er "he end o% WW++ "hese "wo ques"ions ha e become surprisin!ly en"wined* +% "he #olocaus" should s"ill undermine "he complacency o% our e(is"ence, and + "hink i" should, "hen %or mos" o% us, born a%"er "he #olocaus", li"era"ure "urns ou" "o be "he mos" impor"an" "ransmi""er o% "he his"orical "ru"h, "he bes" school o% in"erpre"a"ional di%%icul"y -wi"hou" e(periencin! "hem "here is no openness and "olerance., "he mos" complica"ed "e("ual mechanism promp"in! re%lec"ion a!ains" e ery kind o% holis"ic reasonin! and e ery uni ersalis"ic concep"ion o% man. A" risk o% soundin! "oo condensed, + would say "ha" wi"hou" "he /hoah 0ibrary modern man, or ra"her pos")modern man canno" learn "o know his ori!ins. The /hoah 0ibrary, con"ainin! many "housands o% "e("s "rea"in! on "he #olocaus" and commen"ed upon by ano"her "housand o% "e("s, is a labyrin"h wi"h many en"rances and an unendin! number o% pa"hs "o %ollow. 'n"ry is possible 1us" anywhere, bu" one should quickly shed "he "hou!h" "ha" "he ul"ima"e "ru"h lies a" some alle!ed cen"er, some %ocal poin". Wha" is "he mos" in"ri!uin! "o me, more "han "he ac"ual passa!e, is whe"her "here e(is"s any reasonable road o% re"urn, a re"urn %rom "he "e(" "o li%e, %rom 2orowski and 3rynber! "o my own person. The ques"ion does no" seem e(a!!era"ed. The case is ei"her "ha" we ha e no "rouble wi"h re"urnin! and "ha" would means "ha" /hoah li"era"ure is well isola"ed %rom our li es or else "he radicalism o% "he issues posed by "e("s abou" "he #olocaus" annihila"es our li es and renders "hem in"o an e(is"ence borrowed %rom no"hin!ness, marked by absence, diminishin! as we become more %ully aware o% bein! an embodimen" o% ne!a"ion. 'i"her we lose "he /hoah or we lose li%e. All o% us or ir"ually all o% us choose li%e. This does no" mean dis!race nor is i" a beli""lemen" o% "he impor"ance o% "his li"era"ure. 4e" i" opens "he way "o askin! how "e("s abou" "he #olocaus" pro1ec" our non)"e("ual beha ior. They mus" do i" in order "o pre en" "he isola"ion "o which we sub1ec" deadly books. They mus" do i" wi"h increasin! care because "he his"orical chasm be"ween Auschwi"z and our presen" has ne er ceased "o !row. They mus" do i" in e ery respec", because "he horror and crime pre alen" in "he mass media e%%ec"i ely anaes"he"izes our sensibili"ies. Tha" is why + shall ponder on how "he newes" li"era"ure speaks o% "he /hoah and how i" direc"s us back "o i"sel%. The demi-hero perspective 5emi)hero 6 "he opposi"e o% demi)!od& a bein! depri ed o% human ri!h"s and so de%inable only by ne!a"ion& a subhuman, no" much more "han an animal, some"imes an ob1ec", always li""er. The demi)hero made his appearance in Polish li"era"ure ri!h" a%"er "he war 6 in memoirs, 1ournals, repor"s and recollec"ions, which "heir au"hors s"ripped o% all ou"side knowled!e, endea orin! "o pro ide a %ai"h%ul recons"ruc"ion o% "he e en"s only wi"h "he awareness "ha" was !i en "o people on "he inside. 0i""le 5awid 7ubinowiczs Pamitnik 89emoirs:, ;rys"yna
Th. Adorno, Negative Dialektik, Polish transl. K. Krzemieniowa with S. Krzemie-Ojak, Warsaw: PWN 1 !", #. $% .
,

<ywulskas Przey am !"#icim 8+ sur i ed Auschwi"z: and Pusta #o$a 8'mp"y Wa"er:, "he prose o% Adol% 7udnicki, /"anisaw Wy!odzki, 0eopold 2uczkowski, 2o!dan Woydowskis %hle& rzucony umar ym 82read Thrown "o "he 5ead: 6 "his lis" is surely chao"ic and incomple"e, bu" "hen + am more in"eres"ed in wha" came a%"er, "ha" is, "he nine"ies. The pas" "en years ha e added a" leas" a dozen i"ems "o "he lis"* Wilhelm 5ich"er, 'o( Pana )oga 8The 0ords #orse:& #enryk 3rynber!, *roho&ycz+ *roho&ycz 85rohobi"ch, 5rohobi"ch:& +da =inks no el Po$r, 8>ourney: -,??@. and olume o% s"ories -la$y 8Traces:& Alina 9ar!olis)'delman, .ego+ co m,#ili+ nie /o#t,rzA 8Can" 7epea" Wha" They /aidA:& 9arek 'delmans recollec"ions Stranik 83uardian:, published by Bnak -Cracow ,???.& 9icha 3owiskis %zarne sezony 82lack /easons:, %rom CP'D -Warsaw ,??E. and 0ag$alenka z razo#ego chle&a 89a!dalene)bun o% Whole)meal 2read:& Adam /ikoras Szcz"ciarz 80ucky 9an: -Warsaw ,??F.& Carel Perechodniks %zy 1a 1estem mor$erc2$ 8Am + a 9urderer$: -Warsaw ,??G.A 2o"h "he earlier lis" and "he supplemen"ary one %rom "he pas" decade include books no" so much impor"an" as "erri%yin!* The recons"ruc"ion o% "he pas" and "he perspec"i e o% "he demi) hero "ha" is o%%ered "he reader assumes a minimal dis"ance "o "he e en"s, "hus !i in! a ma(imal immediacy o% "he horror. Hir"ually all "he "e("s 6 wi"hou" preparin! "he !round in any way 6 "hrow "he reader in"o a world "ha" is inconcei able, de oid o% commen"ary, wieldin! absolu"e superiori"y o er "he hero. ICn "he day "ha" "he 3ermans in aded, shor"ly a%"er %a"hers depar"ure %or work, we heard screams in Paska /"ree". Throu!h "he window in "he paren"s bedroom we could see "he police bea"in! up >ews in "he cour"yard. People wi"h a(es came runnin! in"o our cour"yard and be!an poundin! on "he door. 3rand%a"her opened "he lock wi"h a bi! iron key. They "ook him "o!e"her wi"h our mo"her who was s"andin! behind him. Teresa wi"h 7omuJ in her arms slammed "he door shu" and pulled "he blinds in "he windowsK. 345 *ichter+ 'o( Pana )oga+ %raco#: 6nak 1997+ /5 89: LThe news kep" !e""in! worse. 9y %a"her and older bro"her did no" ea" a" all, 1us" smoked ci!are""es. 8A: We didn" know wha" "his world was. Cur paren"s had no idea o% "he place where "hey had brou!h" us in"o "he world.K 3H5 ;ryn&erg+ <=cieczka z )orys a#ia> ?@sca/e from )orys a#A from the volume *roho&ycz+ *roho&ycz+ 4arsa#: 4B) 199C+ /5 7C: L MThey didn" "ake "hem ou" in"o "he %ield a" once. =irs" "o "he 3es"apo 6 why, nobody knows. 9us" ha e been orders. They s"ood "here, in "he cour"yard, un"il "he children were brou!h" "hereA, she s"ops. M+ pre%er no" "o rememberA 2u" "hen she chan!es her mind and asks "ha" wha" she says be wri""en down and immor"alized, because she wan"s some "race "o remainK. 3D$a Eink+ <-la$> 3from the volume -la$+ 19C7F cite$ after !$/ y#a12cy ogr,$ ?Rece$ing ;ar$enA+ 4arsa#: 4B) 8009+ /5 81G: 5ozens o% %ra!men"s like "his could be ci"ed here. +" does no" mean "ha" "he "e("s are iden"ical. ' en so, despi"e numerous di%%erences, "hey all appear "o share "his sudden immersion in"o a world wi"hou" "ranscendence, a world %rom which "here is no e(i" and which knows no sal a"ion. All "he elemen"s o% a demi)heros perspec"i e are responsible %or "his 6 res"ric"ion in space, a sense o% physical "hrea", people "rea"ed as ob1ec"s, incomple"e knowled!e, no ima!ina"ion o% a place or spo" %rom where his"ory could be unders"ood. LThey did wi"h us "his "ha" no one wonders abou" any"hin! anymore,K says "he heroine o% "he s"ory LNladK and + belie e "his "o be ye" ano"her o% "he dark li!h"nin! bol"s "ha" re eal %or a momen" a reali"y "ha" is so incredible "ha" i" becomes inconcei able* e ery"hin! "ha" is happenin! coun"ers "hou!h" and speech, and i" will simply no" be possible "o

ask abou" i" in an ordinary way la"er on. The walls o% reali"y slam shu" around "he hero, screenin! him a" "he same "ime %rom help and unders"andin!. The ul"ima"e mys"ery and "he ul"ima"e horror are iden"ical. ' en in li"erary ca"e!ories "he presen" charac"eris"ic o% "he demi)hero re eals "his horror* "he %irs") or "hird)person narra"or %inds himsel% inside a world "ha" "hrea"ens his or her li%e, and "his ini"ia"es "he s"ory o% sur i al& a" "he same "ime "he hero has insu%%icien" knowled!e o% his si"ua"ion and "his depri es his commen"ary o% au"hori"y, makin! him a par"icipan" in "he plo" abou" searchin! %or unders"andin!* "he charac"er looks a" "he reali"y around him as on a horri%yin! code which "ransmi"s in some !has"ly zero)one rhy"hm only "wo kinds o% in%orma"ion* Lnow i"s your "urnK and Li"s no" you ye"K. =inally, "his hero, bein! a member o% "he communi"y, a""emp"s "o make con"ac" wi"h o"her people in search o% help, "hus "urnin! his li%e in"o a plo" abou" searchin! %or alliances, a search "ha" we know is useless. +" is perhaps "his loneliness in the midst of people "ha" brin!s ou" %ur"her implica"ions o% "he con en"ional and imprecise "erm Ldemi)heroK. Wi"h re!ard "o charac"ers i" means "ha" "hey "hemsel es do no" conceal in "heir memoirs "heir hal%)human, hal%)animal e(is"ence. 5epri ed o% human ri!h"s, "hey ha e become "he prey, ob1ec"s o% "rade, hal%)produc"s in "he processin! indus"ry 6 "o quo"e "he heroines o% one o% 3rynber!s s"ories, "hey ha e become so lonely "ha" "hey ha e despaired o% "heir human iden"i"y* LWe came "o unders"and "ha" we were alone. +n an en"irely di%%eren" world. As i% i" was we who had diedK -*roho&ycz+ *roho&ycz, p. ,GO.. 4e", as 9arek 'delman is ap" "o poin" ou", "here is hidden in "he "erm Ldemi)heroK a pro"es" a!ains" "he assump"ion "ha" mar"yrdom, nobleness, holiness, heroism are a""ribu"ed solely "o "he Lcomple"e personK& re ealed in 'delmans an!ry e(clama"ions is a real and persuasi e con ic"ion "ha" durin! "he /hoah "he mos" ordinary o% ac"ions, like o%%erin! some bread, care, a !es"ure o% solidari"y ) demi)heroism e(ac"ly ) were 1us" as !rea" as %ull heroism. Perhaps e en !rea"er, i% %rom "he demi)hero perspec"i e %ull heroism, "ha" is, dea"h in comba" wi"h %ull consciousness o% "he memory o% "hose who remained, "he cer"ain"y o% bein! personally presen" in his"ory, was connec"ed no" wi"h coura!e and meri"s, bu" wi"h "he dissimilari"y o% bir"h. 4e" "he Ldemi)heroK is "he only role "ha" "he reader can play. #ere + am readin! a "e(" "ha" "hrows me in"o a represen"ed world and depri es me o% a pri ile!ed iewpoin", a superior one in "he sense o% world ou"look, %or e(ample, or pushed la"er in "ime. + am inside "o!e"her wi"h "he o"hers, + know no more "han "hey and my incomple"e knowled!e, my unawareness o% wha" happens ne(", as well as "he inabili"y "o unders"and "he causes o% e en"s pu" me in "he posi"ion o% a demi)hero. +% + am capable o% %ull iden"i%ica"ion, an empha"ic union wi"h "he su%%erin!, lonely, repressed people, + will e(perience 6 "hanks "o "he work o% sharin! e(perience 6 "ha" condi"ion o% subhumani"y, "he depri in! o% all ri!h"s and "he absence o% any hope %or help. +%, on "he o"her hand, + will preser e awareness o% my dis"inc"ness, + will parado(ically ha e "o accep" my kindredness wi"h "hose who could no" or would no" help& our helplessness in "he ac" o% readin!, close "o "he %eelin!s "ha" accompany "he readin! o% ;a%kas works, make us in"o "hose who are LworseK, "ha" is, "he Ldemi)heroesK who are no lon!er %ully human because o% "he sin o% indi%%erence or desis"in!. The demi)hero perspec"i e in "hese "e("s does no" block "he oppor"uni"y %or sel%)rela"ed subs"an"i e considera"ions. 9emory, lan!ua!e, "he presen" 6 "hese "hree e(is"en"ial and li"erary obs"acles which s"and in "he way o% recons"ruc"in! "he horror o% "he /hoah, may appear in "he %orm o% shor" allusions or lon!er commen"aries* L+ wan" "o "ell "he s"ory o% a bi" o% "ime measured no" in mon"hs, + ha e wan"ed "o "ell abou" "his bi" %or a lon! "ime now and no" in "he way "ha" + am doin! i", no" 1us" "his one bi" o% "ime. + wan"ed, bu" + couldn", + knew no" how, + was a%raid also "ha" "his second "ime -"he one "ha" is already measured in mon"hs and years., which has laid i"sel% in a layer o% years o er "ha" one, has %la""ened i" and des"royed i" in me, bu" no, when + was

rumma!in! "oday in "he rubble o% memory + %ound i" %resh and un"ouched by obli ionK. 3D$a Eink+ <Skra#ek czasu> ?B )it of .imeA:8 LThe reader should no" be surprised "o %ind %rom "ime "o "ime "he %ormula P+ don" knowQ. These s"ories are only abou" "ha" which was e(perienced and has been rememberedK. 305 ; o#i(ski+ %zarne sezony+ /5 C: I+ don" remember any"hin! more o% "his 1ourney. + don" remember =a"hers arri al, + don" remember his re"urn. #ere "he wells o% memory "urn ou" "o be dry, depri ed o% any"hin! "ha" could enli en "hemK. 305 ; o#i(ski+ <0ag$alenka z razo#ego chle&a>+ %raco#: 4y$a#nict#o Literackie 8001+ /5 1H8: The necessi"y "o speak as opposed "o a speechless "on!ue, imper%ec" memory as opposed "o "he desire %or a "es"imonial, "he will %or "es"imonial as opposed "o "he desire no" "o remember 6 "hese con%lic"s per ade mos" "e("s abou" "he #olocaus". They speak o% a world described wi"hou" much di%%icul"y, bu" only a" "he cos" o% repea"in! "he cold indi%%erence wi"h which "he commands were wri""en, o% a world "ha" is s"rai!h"%orward in "he animal sense, bu" incomprehensible, o% a world o% dis"urbed moral impulses. +" is "he reali"y o% shrinkin! humani"y. #ow can one re"urn %rom "his reali"y "o ones li%e$ And do "he "e("s o% +da =ink or #enryk 3rynber! help us in "his re"urn$ Do, + would disa!ree. + mi!h" e en say de%ini"ely no". 9y impression is "ha" "he mos" impor"an" "ask "hese "e("s ha e is "o make "his re"urn impossible. To cause "he described e en"s "o haun" us in our ni!h"mares, "o s"rip our lan!ua!e %rom reali"y and "hrow i" in "he abyss wi"h e ery"hin! else "ha" once deser ed "o be re%erred "o as an ordinary li%e, ul"ima"ely %or our memory no" "o wan" "o remember. Done"heless, "he world in which we read books abou" "he #olocaus" is mos" cer"ainly a place where no #olocaus" is "akin! place, hence our normali"y wins ou". =or "his reason "hese "e("s induce us "o look a" our reali"y %rom "he perspec"i e o% "he demi)hero. To re"urn a%"er "ha" is no" easy. #a in! read "hese books, we s"ar" lookin! a" his"ory and socie"y %rom a di%%eren" perspec"i e. =irs" o% all, we become aware "ha" we canno" s"ar" "o unders"and socie"y, nei"her "he one presen"ed in 3rynber!s works nor "he one in which we e(is" oursel es, un"il we search ou" i"s weakes" members, "hose who in case o% a con%lic" would be pushed down "o "he le el o% demi) heroes and depri ed o% e en a minimum o% ri!h"s. /econdly, "hese books command a iew o% e"hnic and reli!ious communi"ies "o which we belon! as communi"ies in which "he ori!inal crime is embedded in "he deep sources o% memory, "his crime bein! "he iolence "ha" helped "o dis"in!uish "he communi"y and "o !i e i" i"s cohesion. This iolence can be e oked a!ain a" any !i en momen" alon! wi"h an obli!in! my"holo!y 1us"i%yin! and concealin! "he e il. Thirdly, "hese "e("s are radical in "eachin! "o dis"rus" all narra"i es abou" human innocence 6 in "he his"orical as well as me"aphysical perspec"i es. =or i" is "ha" "he "e("s %rom "he /hoah 0ibrary in"roduce me "o a his"ory "ha" be!an %rom a new ori!inal sin, "he #olocaus". +n "his new his"ory "he s"ories o% "he /hoah may be assumed "o be our 2ook o% 3enesis, bu" a" "he same "ime we mus" pu" aside all "hou!h"s o% sal a"ion. The ori!inal sin o% "he /hoah poin"s "o a sin!le %undamen"al commandmen" 6 do e ery"hin! so as no" "o le" Auschwi"z be repea"ed. A" "he same "ime, i" !i es no perspec"i e o% sal a"ion o"her "han "he liberal order in which a recurrence o% "he #olocaus" will no" be possible. The roo" e(perience, howe er, drawin! %rom "e("s makin! use o% "he demi)hero perspec"i e is "ha" one is made "o %eel "he hopelessness 6 in "erms o% lan!ua!e, co!ni"ion, his"ory. The pas" "ha" one is presen"ed wi"h in "hese "e("s is an inconcei able, no" en"irely e(pressible and indelible s"i!ma* "he >ews who ha e once been s"i!ma"ized remember "his par" o% our his"ory which %rom now on should e(is" as a s"i!ma, and social consciousness is obli!ed "o "ranspose "his memory in"o "he penance o% readin!. Cur readiness "o lis"en "o s"ories abou" "he crime o%
R

&ited a'ter the (ol)me Skrawek czasu, Warsaw: WA* +%%,, #. 1%.

"he /hoah, a crime commi""ed by reason o% assumin! human inequali"y, should cons"i"u"e a !uaran"ee, admi""edly a weak one indeed, "ha" we shall ne er a!ain cons"ruc" a superman narra"ion. The demi-narrator perspective =irs" an ima!e. Auschwi"z, "he concen"ra"ion camp, be"ween "he loadin! pla"%orm and "he !ypsy barracks "here is a %oo"ball %ield made by "he prisoners. A ma"ch is "akin! place. A "ranspor" o% people headed %or "he crema"orium appears on "he pla"%orm. Then i" disappears. L2e"ween "wo corner kicks, behind my back, "hree "housand people were !assed "o dea"hK. This is "he iewpoin" o% "he demi)narra"or, a person inside "his world, bu" simul"aneously ou"side "he #olocaus". This person 6 in "his case "he narra"or in 2orowskis s"ory L0udzie, k"Srzy szliK 8People, who walked:O 6 is incapable o% ad1us"in! his li%e "o wha" he has seen, or else, as "he narra"or in Bo%ia Dakowskas 0e$aliony 89edallions:, he canno" unders"and. The "ales o% such wi"nesses canno" be comple"e, because wha" is mos" impor"an" %or "he s"ory i"sel% "akes place on "he side o% "he inconcei able, o% "hin!s "ha" canno" be assimila"ed in any lan!ua!e in which "here is li%e. Tha" is why "he person "ellin! "he s"ory in such "e("s is only a demi)narra"or. A arie"y o% si!nals e okin! dis"ance ha e been inser"ed be"ween "he "ale o% "he narra"or and "he his"ory o% "he #olocaus". +n "e("s %rom "he period immedia"ely a%"er "he war "he dis"ance was a deri a"i e o% "he e(is"en"ial di%%erence, in "e("s o% "he ,??@s, "ha" is, "he works o% #anna ;rall and +ri" Amiel, i" is "he ou"come o% a "ime di%%erence. Thus "he narra"or re eals "o us a si"ua"ion o% "ellin! "he s"ory& he emphasizes "ha" i" is no" his own s"ory o% bein! sa ed or else he concen"ra"es on "he %a"e o% "he sa ed 6 a" once problema"ic, drama"ic, car ed %rom li%e. +n narra"ions o% "his kind we are dealin! wi"h a %undamen"al non)iden"i"y o% "he si"ua"ion "old and "he si"ua"ion o% "ellin!, o% "he narra"or and o% "he hero, o% bein! sa ed "o li e and o% ac"ual li%e. This non)iden"i"y resul"s in "he al"era"ion o% "he readers role. +n "he "e("s discussed pre iously "he reader was res"ric"ed "o "he perspec"i e o% "he demi)hero inside "he s"ory. Dow, he -"he reader. reco ers his separa"eness, he comes ou" o% "he inner "ale and s"ands on "he border be"ween "he order o% represen"a"ion and "he represen"ed world. +% he had been closer "o "he narra"or be%ore, i" was primarily because "he narra"or was iden"i%ied wi"h "he hero. Dow, "he reader mo es closer "o "he narra"or and away %rom "he hero. This me"hod, mos" %ully embodied and perhaps e en lar!ely crea"ed by #anna ;rall, depends "hus on re ealin! "he a!ency o% o"hers. The narra"or here is in e%%ec" no" a par"icipan" in "he described e en"s, more a lis"ener and repor"er o% wha" he has heard. #is role is no" a s"ric" descrip"ion o% "he world, bu" a %ai"h%ul rendi"ion o% someone elses s"ory, re%lec"in! "he speci%ici"y o% indi idual %a"e, bu" also, possibly, a speci%ic dic"ion, an indi idual lan!ua!e, a pri a"e "ru"h. L MTell me some"hin!, + asked. -+ always end my encoun"ers wi"h readers in "his way* PTell me a s"ory, a real s"ory, an impor"an" s"oryA. /omeone elses s"ory or your ownA.Q.. + "urned "he mike o%%. There was silence. The people were wonderin! whe"her "hey knew any impor"an" s"ories. And whe"her "hey wan"ed "o en"rus" "hem "o meK. 3Hanna 'rall+ .am 1u nie ma a$ne1 rzeki ?.hereIs no river there anymoreA+ %raco#: aG Pu&lishers 19JC+ /5 G: I0inka unders"ood ery early "ha" a%"er wha" had happened i" was impossible "o !o on li in!. 8A: Twice she was sa ed, bu" she was s"ubborn, con inced abou" "he ri!h"ness o% her decision and "he "hird "ime around she mana!ed %inally "o lea e "his wonder%ul
O

-rom the (ol)me Poegnanie z Mari.

world o% ours. 8A: + ha e recen"ly "hou!h" abou" her o%"en and + am spinnin! ou" her ima!ined bio!raphyK. 3Drit Bmiel+ !smaleni ?)urntA+ Dza&elin: -#iat Literacki 1999+ /5 10: L#e came %rom Canada.T #ere is my li%e, he said, and placed a "hick manuscrip" be%ore me.T They come %rom e erywhere, pre%errin! "he summer.T Wi"h shea es o% paper.T Wi"h "ha" same o%%icial "e("* here isATPlease come back in a week, + "old himK. 3Hanna 'rall+ .o ty 1este" *aniel ?So+ you are *anielA+ %raco#: aG Pu&lishers 8001+ /5 GC: 2ooks cons"ruc"ed on "he principle o% a demi)narra"ors perspec"i e are less %requen" "han "he ones wi"h a demi)hero. The lis" includes +ri" Amiel and #anna ;rall, bu" also #alina 2irenbaum wi"h her 'a$y o$zyskany $zie( 8' ery 7eco ered 5ay: -Cracow ,??E. and 3us"aw #erlin!)3rudziski wi"h his B 1e$nak czasem mie#am sny5 Historia /e#ne1 samotno"ci Koannie 4isznie#icz o/o#ie$ziana 8And 4e" + 5o 5ream /ome"imes. The /"ory o% Cne 9ans 0oneliness Told "o >oanna Wiszniewicz: -Warsaw ,??U. and Po$z#onne $la $z#onnika 8;nell %or "he bell)rin!er:, as well as >anina 2aumans 6ima o /oranku 8Win"er a" 5awn: -Pozna* Wyd. Bysk i /)ka ,???:. The apparen" conclusion is "ha" "hey are more di%%icul" and "he "ask under"aken by "he au"hors requires work o% a di%%eren" kind. The wri"in! in ques"ion is di%%eren" in "wo ways* "he au"hor cons"ruc"s his "ale on "he piers o% "wo di%%eren" "imes 6 "he pas" and "he presen", and e en when he wri"es o% himsel%, he is indeed wri"in! o% someone who has been chan!ed. These are a%"er all "ales o% "he li es o% "hose who sur i ed dea"h, o% "he way in which people who saw all norms break mana!ed "o deal wi"h normali"y. They are also abou" how "he "ales o% "he rescued reach au"hors. The role o% "he narra"or is "ha" o% a con%idan"* he under"akes "o lis"en and "hen lends his narra"i e and wri"in! skills "o people who ha e los" "heir oices in "he %ace o% his"orical e(perience, who ha e los" "heir sha""ered li es and "heir belie% in "he cohesion o% his"ory. Do one here is en"i"led "o "he whole* heroes are demi)heroes and "he s"ory"eller is only in hal% "he one who can dispose o% "he "ale. The s"ory canno" a""ain cohesion. +" is why "he li"erary charac"er o% "hese "e("s is a !rowin! issue. The au"hors are consciously in ol in! mani%old adop"ed "hreads in "heir narra"ion* repea"in! "he s"ories o% o"hers bu" also "ransposin! "hem, speakin! on behal% o% o"hers bu" also re ealin! "heir s"a"us as lis"ener, e ery"hin! in order "o e(press "he speci%ic condi"ion o% bein! a sur i or. This should be unders"ood in "wo%old manner* as "he anoin"in! o% "he chosen, "he %ew who mana!ed "o sur i e, bu" also as a smearin!, soilin!, s"i!ma"izin!, or Lburnin!K as +ri" Amiel wro"e, o% "hose who came "hrou!h. The s"i!ma burned in"o "heir bio!raphies by "he #olocaus", "he "a""oo "ha" sur i in! le%" "hem wi"h is no" a s"i!ma o% happiness, bu" "he ri"e o% ul"ima"e ill %or"une, a mark o% "o"al hollowin!. 2y some !has"ly parado( sur i al has "aken away "hese peoples li es, meanin! "ha" i" has "urned "heir e(is"ence in"o emp"iness because i" was owed "o dea"h, "o no"hin!ness. They are li in! a borrowed li%e in which "here is no"hin! o% impor"ance* 1us" ordinary e(is"in!, "he minimum, is "oo much %or "hem and "he "hin!s "ha" are "he mos" impor"an", like %amily, a !ood pro%ession, success, are all "oo insi!ni%ican". 2y e(is"in! a%"er "heir own dea"h, "he LsmearedK or Lanoin"edK ha e been "hrown ou"side "heir own li es. They are s"uck in an absurd world where "here are no connec"ions be"ween any"hin!. The order "ha" could possibly link par"icular "hin!s belon!s "o "he pas" in which all "he arie"ies o% order had "urned ou" "o be deadly. Consequen"ly, "he heroes o% "hese books are all a melancholic o% normali"y* "hey dream o% an ordinary order in li%e bu" "hey see no poin" "o i". They e(perience "heir miraculously sa ed li es as a sin, an unbearable burden, an indelible !uil" -L#ow could you$K, whisper "he indi!nan" souls o% ances"ors haun"in! rabbi Dachman in his sleep& L4ou ha e sur i ed, because you are cowardsV, screams a cer"ain 5oc"or a%"er !ues"s lea in! his home& .o ty

1este" *aniel, p. ,U, R@.. The s"ra"e!y o% lis"ener)con%idan" causes "he charac"ers "o lose "heir separa"eness, "hey become assimila"ed and are summed up in"o models o% %a"e. =ur"hermore, "he s"ory o% bein! rescued is represen"ed as an absurd symme"ry "o dea"h. /ince "he #olocaus" was an absurd, as #anna ;rall persuades, "hen also a oidin! annihila"ion is an illo!ical !i%", escapin! unders"andin! and e(pression. + percei e in "his s"ra"e!y a" leas" "wo irreducible and "o my mind %undamen"al alues. =irs" o% all, "he incomple"eness "ha" is %undamen"al "o "hese books should be unders"ood as s"ubborn re%usal "o brin! "he /hoah nearer in any way, as a lack o% consen" %or ra"ional e(plana"ions, as opposi"ion "o our e%%or"s "o "urn "he inconcei able #olocaus", as in iolable as "he sacrum, in"o a mys"ery "ha" should be sol ed. +n "he li!h" o% "his in"erpre"a"ion e ery sa ed indi idual is an embodimen" o% C"herness iola"ed durin! "he /hoah& "hus i" may be presumed "ha" "he a""i"udes o% au"hors who like #anna ;rall declare "ha" L9y "ask is no" "o knowK should be "aken as a reminder "ha" i" is be""er "o respec" "he mys"ery ra"her "han "o insis" on e(plainin! i". /econdly, "he demi)narra"or s"ra"e!y leads parado(ically "o a prolon!a"ion o% "he #olocaus" and no" only because we are bein! made aware o% people %or whom "he pas" !oes on in "he %orm o% unmeri"ed !uil". +" is primarily because "his s"ra"e!y su!!es"s le""in! "he #olocaus" in"o "he presen", makin! i" impossible "o place i" e(clusi ely in a closed and dis"an" pas", and "o reduce i" "o bein! no more "han a problem o% "he C"hers. To my mind, "hese books desire "o make us unders"and "ha" "he communica"ion problems ) "ha" rup"urin! o% in"erhuman unders"andin! caused by "he /hoah ) is our problem, no" Theirs, and "ha" They are Ws. The books would like "o make i" clear "o us "ha" a%"er "he /hoah we should all "rea" our narra"i e skills as a !i%" "o be shared wi"h o"hers, bu" one "ha" le"s only hal% o% wha" is "he mos" impor"an" "o be e(pressed. 2y usin! "he %orm Lwould likeK + wan"ed "o emphasize "he di%%erence be"ween in"en"ions and %ul%illmen". +" seems "o me "ha" "he demi)narra"or s"ra"e!y has i"s ne!a"i e readin! consequences "ha" are par"icularly well e(empli%ied by #anna ;ralls la"es" books. To rei"era"e, "he demi)narra"or persuades us "ha" our consen" no" "o unders"and "he repea"ed bu" inconcei able %a"e o% people who were sa ed is essen"ial in "he encoun"er wi"h "he C"her, so "ha" we do no" a""emp" "o appropria"e i". 2u" "hen a problem arises* how should we combine "he consen" no" "o unders"and wi"h an ac"i e a""i"ude "oward "he C"her$ #ow are we "o pass %rom melancholy "o communica"ion, %rom nobleness "o communi"y$ A" "his poin" we encoun"er "he "roublesome consequences o% ;ralls me"hod. The au"hor represen"s one o% "he mos" inconcei able, "errible and in"ernally con"radic"ory e(periences o% "he "wen"ie"h cen"ury simul"aneously releasin! "he reader %rom "he obli!a"ion o% ac"i e communica"ion. A%"er all, she "ells me "ha" + do no" e en ha e "o "ry "o dis"in!uish be"ween "he rescued 6 "hey are so like one ano"her. +n "his way her prose unin"en"ionally duplica"es "he model o% "he /"ron!er Cne, meanin! "ha" "he ic"ims ha e "heir %a"e bu" no" "heir names or %aces. /econdly, by !i in! me only a !eneral idea o% "he heroes bio!raphies, "his prose ascer"ains "ha" i" is enou!h, "ha" bein! anoin"ed by dea"h is "he mos" impor"an" %ac" and "here is no"hin! more wor"h lookin! %or. Thirdly, "he au"hor su!!es"s "ha" "he mos" impor"an" "ask o% narra"i e ar" is "o pro ide "ricks "o de%end a!ains" an e"hical e(periencin! o% "he world -and "he resul"an" despair., bu" a" "he same "ime she wi"hdraws %rom workin! on "he %orm, su!!es"in! "ha" %orm %eeds on human "ra!edy. =inally, "he wri"er absol es me as a reader %rom makin! "he e%%or" "o unders"and, permi""in! me "o con"en" mysel% wi"h "he melancholy mood crea"ed wi"h "he aid o% "he #olocaus". Thus wha" + dare "o char!e #anna ;ralls prose wi"h is no" "ha" she speaks in beau"i%ul words o% "errible ma""ers, bu" "ha" her wri"in!s "rans%orm "he bio!raphies o% sur i ors -condemned "o "he absurd. in"o a source o% easy emo"ions, "ha" i" makes "he narra"or "he ob1ec" o% our compassion -poor woman, "hey keep brin!in! her "he same kind o% s"ories., "ha" i" releases "he reader %rom "he e%%or" "o di%%eren"ia"e and encoura!es him "o "rea" e ery"hin! "ha" was pos")

#olocaus" as a lo%"y mys"ery. #er s"yle and her concep"ion o% wri"in! allow us "o draw aes"he"ic sa"is%ac"ion %rom co!ni"i e helplessness. +% "he #olocaus" remains a li"erary and e"hical challen!e, i" means "ha" ar" which represen"s i" has pri ile!es, bu" also obli!a"ions. These are ul"ima"ely reduced "o ha in! "he li"era"ure show "ha" "he inabili"y "o reach an unders"andin! is no" 1us" "heir, bu" also our problem. 9eanwhile ;ralls prose pu"s "he reader in a melancholy mood "hinkin! o% "he absurdi"y o% "he ni!h"mare which became "heir %a"e and o% "he eni!ma"ic na"ure o% %a"e which "ook on acciden"al %ea"ures. Thus we are !i en a !i%" which le"s us draw sa"is%ac"ion %rom our own sensibili"ies -we !row sen"imen"al abou" oursel es because we are able "o ha e compassion %or "he %a"e o% "he sur i ors. and our own shrewdness -we ha e disco ered "he mys"ery o% "he absurd.. As Dakowska and 2orowski used "he same me"hod bu" e oked a di%%eren" reac"ion %rom "he readers, i" would appear "ha" "he error is in "he %ul%illmen" and no" in "he assump"ions. The ou"come o% "his error is de%ined mos" simply as "he reduc"ion o% "he readers role "o "ha" o% an isola"ed lis"ener. +% "he pre ious s"ra"e!y leads "o a peni"en" readin!, "hen ;ralls and Amiels books lead "o a readin! o% absolu"ion* we read and we %eel in "he ri!h" "o isola"e clearly and dis"inc"ly "he s"ories we hear %rom our communica"ion and li%e e(periences. ' ery"hin! "ha" we can o%%er "he heroes is a %ear%ul lis"enin! subordina"ed "o "he principle o% no" in"er%erin! wi"h "he enuncia"ions o% o"hers and "he li%e o% o"hers. The demi-author perspective 0e" me be!in wi"h some quo"es* L/omewhere %rom under my eyelid, %rom "he ery sources o% "he ri er "hese words came in"o bein!. 4es, wri"in! was "here a" "he be!innin! 8A:K& L/o + come e(hor"ed, "ake "he parcel, wi"h my own si!na"ure + cer"i%y on so many pa!es "his unasked %or and no" addressed !i%", and + call you, because maybe also some o% you will come 8A: si!n anew, con%irm, cer"i%y, si!n recep"ion one day, add your pos", pos"scrip"um, all o% you who are alle!edly named.K 305 )ie(czyk+ .#orki+ 4arsa#: Sic Pu&lishers 1999+ /5 C an$ 19H: L8A: "he his"ory o% socie"y is no"hin! more "han a collec"i e bio!raphy. And like in a bio!raphy, a li%e s"ory "ha" is made o% separa"e episodes a%"er all, e ery"hin! in "he his"ory o% socie"y re%ers mu"ually "o one ano"her. +% a lie is s"uck somewhere in "he -collec"i e. bio!raphy, "hen e ery"hin! "ha" comes la"er will also be in some way inau"hen"ic, lined wi"h an(ie"y and uncer"ain"y -A. in order "o reco er our own pas", we will ha e "o "ell i" %rom "he be!innin!K. 3K5.5 ;ross+ S2sie$zi5 Historia zag a$y y$o#skiego miasteczka ?Leigh&ors5 .he history of the Bnnihilation of a Ke#ish .o#nA+ Se1ny: Pogranicze Pu&lishers 8000+ /5 180: =rom "he poin" o% iew o% "he "heme 6 or "he issue 6 3rosss his"orical essay, 2ieczyks no el and Aliny 9ar!olis)'delmans memoirs .ego+ co m,#ili+ nie /o#t,rz #am 8Wha" "hey said + won" repea" "o you:F, 3rynber!s 0emor&uch and his old s"ories composed anewG, 9arek 'delmans reminiscencesU all speak o% "he Polish)>ewish rela"ions and "he Poles a""i"udes durin! "he /hoah. They all share "he "endency "o %ind cracks in "he basic "e(", "ha" is, in Polish ersions o% "he /hoah. The %ocus is no" 1us" on "he mu"e consen" "o "he dea"h o% >ews and collabora"ion, bo"h o% which are skimmed o er in our "ales. /ome"hin! much more impor"an" is in ol ed* in "he Polish ersion o% pa"rio"ism, in our "ale o% heroism and mar"yrdom "here lies a 1us"i%ica"ion %or such beha ior and a social accep"ance o% "hese
The 'irst edition was entitled Ala z elementarza .Ala 'rom the /eadin0 Primer1. /i2 stories 'rom the (ol)me Ekipa <Antygona> .3Ant40on5s6 Team1 71 ",8 and two 'rom the 9olle9tion Szkice ro zinne .-amil4 sket9hes1 71 %8 ha(e :een in9l)ded in the (ol)me !"czyzna .;omeland1. U <ntitled =Stra>nik? .@)ardian1, &ra9ow: Anak 1 .
F G

repressions which %ollows %rom i". =ur"hermore, i% 9iosz poin"ed ou" in LCampo di =ioriK "he inhuman indi%%erence o% Poles in "he %ace o% "he liquida"ion o% "he !he""o -and "he same was la"er described by 2oski in his essay L2iedni Polacy pa"rzX na !he""oK 8The poor Poles wa"ch "he !he""o:, i% 7embek ques"ioned "he my"h o% Poland as a land %ree o% "he i!nominy o% collabora"ion, i% 3rynber! described how Poles murdered >ews, "hen 3ross made us all aware o% "he %ac" "ha" "he #olocaus" re%le( is par" o% Polish normali"y 6 a readiness "o annihila"e everyone -i" is no" impor"an" whe"her i" is ,R@@, RG@ or ,R, i" is impor"an" "ha" i" be e eryone. o% "he >ews li in! on "he mar!ins o% local communi"ies. The "i"le o% 3rosss his"orical repor"a!e, absolu"ely in!enious in i"s simplici"y -borrowed %rom A!nieszka Arnold, "he au"hor o% "he %ilm abou" >edwabne., in%ormed "ha" L"he ul"ima"e solu"ion "o "he >ewish issueK could easily be a nei!hborly e%%or". #ence draws 6 qui"e une(pec"edly 6 a di%%eren"ly concei ed obli!a"ion "o crea"e "ales o% "he /hoah. To recapi"ula"e and compare, le" me say "ha" "he s"ra"e!y o% "he demi)hero as i" was charac"erized by >acek 0eociakY, is de"ermined by a documen"ary obli!a"ion -"o pic"ure reali"y., a moral du"y -"o awaken "he conscience o% "he indi%%eren"., a sense o% 1us"ice -"o comple"e a %ile %or %u"ure 1ud!men"., as well as a "herapeu"ic and e(pressi e need. +n "he s"ra"e!y o% "he demi)narra"or "he narra"ion is "he ou"come o% "he obli!a"ion "o lis"en. +n "he demi)au"hors s"ra"e!y L"o "ell a s"oryK means "o open his"ory, "o 1oin in i"s crea"ion bu" also "o pre en" i"s closin!, as when i" is said "ha" e ery"hin! has been e(plained and "here is no"hin! "o re"urn "o. 3ross is "ryin! "here%ore "o make us aware o% "he need "o absorb pas" e(periences in"o our presen" horizon in order "o reco er "he ri!h" "o "he whole o% his"ory. =ear !uards "he en"rance "o "he archi es o% social memory as lon! as lies will screen e il %rom si!h". 7e isin! old "e("s is an essen"ial condi"ion o% broadenin! our curren" communica"ion. +% we desire "o communica"e di%%eren"ly "oday, we mus" "ell oursel es "he yes"erday a!ain, anew. 2ieczyk approaches "he narra"i e obli!a"ion %rom a di%%eren" an!le. #is s"ory a""emp"s "o "ell o% "he holocaus" in "he words o% a %resh hi!h school !radua"e, a youn! bu" ordinary war"ime in"ellec"ual. The hero seems "o ha e 1umped ou" o% "he pa!es o% 3ombrowiczs Eer$y$urke* #e has only 1us" !radua"ed %rom secondary school and his"ory is now %orcin! him "o use "he lan!ua!e learned a" school, "he li"era"ure remembered and "he concep"s assimila"ed in order "o "ry and unders"and "he /hoah. To make pain%ully clear "he barrier "ha" "he lan!ua!e o% a pre) war school !radua"e posed "o "he unders"andin! o% "he >ewish "ra!edy, 2ieczyk has isola"ed his hero %rom "he reali"ies o% "he war. The heros re%u!e is his work -in a home %or "he men"ally ill in Tworki., Arcadian picnics or!anized by a !roup o% %riends and %inally, lo e "oward a >ewess -which charac"er, howe er, "he au"hor did no" mana!e "o crea"e wi"hou" reachin! %or s"ereo"ypes o% a >ewess as a woman ini"ia"in! a youn! man in"o li%e, a sphin( de oid o% mys"ery and a ruinous femme fatale.. 5ea"h makes i"s appearance in "his densely %illed Arcadia, bu" "he lan!ua!e in which i" speaks 6 "he lan!ua!e o% absence, emp"iness le%" by successi e ic"ims disappearin! in"o "he oid 6 "urns ou" "o be a code "oo di%%icul" %or "he in"ellec"ual idiom "o break. The heros e(is"ence will now be marked wi"h a sense o% missin! some"hin!, bu" i" is "he e(perience o% non)e(is"ence "ha" 2ieczyk ar!ues is "he be!innin! o% his road, "he one he recommends "o readers, one "ha" will lead "o an unders"andin! o% "he /hoah. To my mind, "here is a new "e("ual awareness comin! "o "he %ore in 3ross and 2ieczyks books. +" consis"s %oremos" o% "rea"in! all "races o% "he pas" as po"en"ial "e("s& by all + mean "he oice o% "he ic"im as well as "he oice o% "he oppressor, "rial e idence as much as "he "es"imonial o% a pri a"e le""er. /econdly, "he his"orio!raphy o% "races is accompanied by "he con ic"ion "ha" "he documen"s o% "he pas" do no" speak %or "hemsel es, meanin! "ha" a recons"ruc"ion o% his"ory is always "o some e("en" i"s cons"ruc"ion, and "ha" a person "ellin! o% "he pas" collabora"es in i"s crea"ion. Thirdly, "he s"ra"e!y o% "he demi)au"hor draws wi"h i" a
Y

B. Ceo9iak, #ekst wo$ec %ag&a y .The Te2t in the -a9e o' the Shoah1, Wro9Daw 1

E.

me"a"e("ual openness, "ha" is, makin! people aware o% "he spec"acle o% recons"ruc"ion in which "hey are "akin! par". There%ore, no au"hor can "ruly belie e himsel% "o be a crea"or in %ull. Anyone who s"ar"s a "ale is ac"ually only "he wri"er o% a successi e chap"er, "he au"hor o% an in"erpre"a"ion "ha" is pu" on "he mar!ins. 'specially as "he demi)wri"in! "ha" is bein! done "oday has "he clear in"en"ion o% sha""erin! "he my"h o% "he 9ain Te(", "he superior, sole and ob1ec"i e, shared and all)e(plana"ory, ul"ima"e ersion o% his"ory. The demi)au"hor under"akes merely "o e("end "he s"ory in order "o encoura!e o"hers "o pick up "he narra"i e where er his s"ory has le%" o%%. The literatures perspectives The "hird s"ra"e!y o% "ellin! o% "he /hoah allows "he discussion o% Polish li"era"ure "o be iewed in a broader, 'uropean and American con"e(". We appear "o be in a pos")modernis" phase o% "he /hoah, "o 1ud!e by "his con"e(". +" may sound as"onishin!, so le" me adduce "ha" + do no" "rea" "his s"a"emen" in a pos"ula"i e or deprecia"ory manner. +" is seen simply as a %ac", a componen" o% a bi!!er process or rule "ha" "e("ual "es"imonials o% "he #olocaus" canno" a oid. A !rea" many aspec"s are cons"i"uen" "o "his pos")modernism* "he appearance o% works like Ar" /pie!elmans 0aus 8The 9ouse: "ha" make "he di%%erence be"ween hi!h and low ar" recede& includin! "he #olocaus" in "he mechanisms and rules o% commercial ar", Schin$lerIs List bein! an e(ample, which does no" e(clude "he crea"ion o% prominen" works& dis"urbin! -and e en se erin!. "he connec"ion be"ween "es"imony and au"hen"ici"y, as indica"ed by "he made)up memoirs o% 2in1amin Wilkomirski, )ruchstMke5 Bus einer 'in$heit 1999N19HJ -/uhrkamp Taschenbuch ,??E.. 7e%errin! "his "o Polish li"era"ure, + would say "ha" "hree "hin!s ha e happened "o i". =irs" o% all, "he Lli"era"ure o% "he wi"nessK and "he lis"eners perspec"i e are in crisis, e en wi"hou" Wilkomirskis par"icipa"ion* new "e("s are bein! wri""en no" in resul" o% pressin! memories, bu" in%luenced by o"her works -*zie#czynka # czer#onym / aszczyku 8A 3irl in a 7ed Coa": by 7oma 0i!ocka is an apparen" apocrypha o% Schin$lerIs List.& "hese are s"ron!ly con en"ionalized "e("s as "hey are likened "o "he models o% #olocaus" s"ories -%or e(ample, 7u"a Wermu"hs S/otka am lu$zi5 Historia o tragicznym /ocz2tku i niez#yk ym zako(czeniu 8+ 9e" People. A /"ory wi"h a Tra!ic 2e!innin! and an '("raordinary =inale:, 9edia 7odzina, Pozna R@@R., !uaran"eein! readers a %airly com%or"able isola"ionis" a""i"ude. /econdly, "he /hoah decorum has been sha""ered& "he documen"ary or "ra!ic mode is no lon!er essen"ial in wri"in! o% "he #olocaus". Cne can use !ro"esque, ei"her melancholy as 2ieczyk or sa"irical as +ri" Amiel in "he 2iblical apocrypha openin! "he olume !smaleni. These "e("s, in similari"y "o 7ober"o 2eninis Life is )eautiful and Ar" /pie!elmans 0aus, clearly !i e "he si!nal "ha" "he se" o% s"yles and aes"he"ic ca"e!ories has been au!men"ed, "ha" wri"in! uses many di%%eren" lan!ua!es and searches amon! many di%%eren" aes"he"ics. 2ecause i% "he /hoah was a "ime when Everything happened, "hen li"era"ure, "oo, has "he ri!h" "o use e ery"hin! a" i"s disposal. Thirdly, i" is my impression "ha" a s"ra"e!y has appeared, unpreceden"ed in our li"era"ure, o% "he demi)au"hor, crea"or o% "he "e(". Perhaps i" is "his par"icular a""i"ude "ha" re eals li"era"ures response no" only "o "he una oidable dispersal o% "es"imony, "ru"h, %ormula"ion, bu" also "heir e(cess and limi"lessness, and "he resul"an" crisis o% in"erpre"a"ion. The proper inno a"i eness and role o% "he "e(")crea"in! a""i"ude should be seen ra"her in re%erence "o "he di er!ence be"ween "e("s abou" "he /hoah and li%e a%"er "he "e(". =or i" seems "o me "ha" i" is "he "e(")crea"in! a""i"ude "ha" can appease "he boundless dis"ance e(is"in! be"ween my li%e and my dea"h, "he dea"h "ha" + can e(perience en"erin! "he 0ibrary o% "he /hoah. +n "he "e(")crea"in! a""i"ude, "he diminishin! o% "he dis"ance be"ween my person buyin! a book on "he /hoah, !e""in! chan!e %rom "he #olocaus", plannin! "o read be"ween lunch and dinner, discussin! "he /hoah o er "ea or co%%ee, lis"enin! "o wise and appropria"ely lo%"y papers a" "he %i%"ie"h con%erence on "he #olocaus" 6 in brie%, "he diminishin! o% "he

dis"ance be"ween me as "he reader and me as a human bein! appears "o be possible only because e ery"hin! "akes on a "e("ual charac"er. 2ieczyk and 3ross "ell me "ha" in order "o unders"and "he /hoah + ha e "o "ell i", based on o"her s"ories and wi"h "he narra"i e skill "ha" + ha e been endowed wi"h. =ur"hermore, "hey "ell me "ha" un"il + do "his + will remain an indi%%eren", hence passi e and in a sense helpless reader in "he /hoah 0ibrary* + will be 6 "his + read %rom 3ross book 6 blind "o "he si!ni%icance o% his"orical analyses or else + shall be 6 as 2ieczyks work makes me unders"and 6 unaware o% "he limi"a"ions in my ou"look and in my lan!ua!e, incapable o% crea"in! a "ale "ha" could connec" "he dis"an" Absen" wi"h my own presence. +% we desire "o ha e a di%%eren" presen", says 3ross, we mus" s"ar" "ellin! "he pas" in a di%%eren" manner. +% we wish "o unders"and our presence, says 2ieczyk, we mus" e(perience absence, and "ha" is hidden in "he mos" inconcei able %orm in "he #olocaus". Thus, bo"h books a""emp" "o persuade "he reader "ha" wi"hou" narra"ion one canno" arri e a" ones his"orical sub1ec"i eness, and wi"hou" e(periencin! loss one will no" a""ain sel%)awareness. +n "his way + see S2sie$zi and .#orki as books which, re!ardless o% how many ques"ions "hey pose and how many answers "hey !i e, are more a be!innin! "han an end, books which open me "o my own "e(")crea"ion ra"her "han doin! i" %or me. +n shor", "hey "ell me "ha" + can ha e his"ory and mysel% be presen" in "his his"ory, only i% + reco er "he #olocaus". 2u" "o reco er i", + mus" %irs" lose i" a!ain and "hen be!in "ellin! abou" i".