Janina Dziarnowska


Janina Dziarnowska was a Ukrainian born Polish writer and translator, publicist, and expert on Soviet literature. She wrote in the style of Socialist realism in Poland. She was a member of the Communist Party of Poland then the Polish United Workers' Party.

Early life

Dziarnowska was born on 13 November 1903 at Juzovka in Ukraine. Her father was Kazimierz Tołwiński, an engineer, and her mother was Maria Tołwiński. The family moved to Poland when Dziarnowska was 11 years old.

Education and early career

She was educated at the Pedagogical Department of the Free Polish University in Warsaw, and became a member of the leftist Students' Union. After graduating, Dziarnowska worked as a primary school teacher in Marki near Warsaw, and then as a clerk.

Writing

Dziarnowska wrote her first novel Maritta in 1930, then began translating literature into Russian in 1934. In 1937 she became the editorial secretary of the magazine Życie WSM. She also published reviews for Nowe Książki. In 1936, Dziarnowska joined the Communist Party of Poland.
When Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany, Dziarnowska was living in Poland. Her book The Story of Anne later described the life of a Warsaw apartment house during the occupation, stressing the class contradictions of the residents. After the end of World War II, in 1945 she became a member of the Polish Workers' Party, known from 1948 as the Polish United Workers' Party.
In 1948, Dziarnowska married Antoni Dziarnowski, a tram driver and trade union activist.
In 1951, Dziarnowska became a member of the Union of Polish Writers. She wrote the novel The City of New People which praised the USSR, as well as We Are From Nowa Huta which depicted the major construction project of Nowa Huta. Her novel for teenagers titled When Others Are Children was translated into German. She was known for writing in the style of Socialist realism in Poland.
From 1966 to 1971 Dziarnowska was a member of the Central Committee of Party Control of the Polish United Workers' Party. For this role she made trips across the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, including to the USSR, Bulgaria and Algeria.

Death and legacy

Dziarnowska died on 22 December 1992 in Warsaw. She was honoured with a burial at the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw, and is known as the "grand old lady of the revolution."

Awards