– „Modlę się inną mową”. O życiu, twórczości i śmierci Andrzeja Wolicy
“I Pray in a Different Tongue”: On the Life, Work, and Death of Andrzej Wolic

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the life and literary work of Andrzej Wolica (1909–1940),a writer and political activist whose biography and creative output merit renewed scholarly attention. Wolica, a Polonized Jew, was initially affiliated with the PolishSocialist Party (PPS) and later joined the Communist Party of Poland (KPP). Hewas imprisoned in interwar Poland for his communist activism, yet he later facedostracism from his KPP comrades for his critical stance toward the Moscow showtrials. Following the September 1939 defeat of Poland, Wolica fled to Lwów, wherehe was arrested by the NKVD in January 1940. He was executed in Kyiv, and hisremains were buried in a mass grave in Bykivnia. Wolica’s literary legacy is equallysignificant, especially his short story collection titled Rudy (1939) – an outstandingyet nearly forgotten work. The volume presents an ethical critique of communistpractices, particularly the demands for absolute loyalty to the Cause, as well as themechanisms of slander and violence. These themes were rooted in Wolica’s personalexperiences, which also informed his earlier writings. His earlier work includesrevolutionary poetry with a confessional and enthusiastic tone (Hammers in OurHands, 1930; From the Stone House, 1936), and a socio-political novel, OgrodowaStreet (1938), which reveals growing skepticism toward the ideals of social activismin the tradition of Stefan Żeromski. The article also explores Wolica’s worldview andhis self-identification in both ethnic and class terms.

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