I’ve been melting in the heat a little recently, as no doubt many of you have too! My reading has slowed down quite a lot during July, but I *have* been reading , and the book I want to talk about today is one which has been on my radar for some time. I received a proof of it ages ago (the original publication date was March 2020); then it was put back to April 2021, and finally was published in March 2022. Was it worth the wait? Well, yes – very much so!!
The work in question is “Memories of Starobielsk: Essays Between Art and History” by Josef Czapski (translated by Alissa Valles), and the author has appeared on the Ramblings before, when I covered his “Lost Time: Lectures on Proust in a Soviet Prison Camp“. Perhaps his most famous work is “Inhuman Land”, where he relates his quest to discover the truth about the fate of thousands of Polish officers who were massacred in Katyn Forest in 1940. “Memories…” is related to both these works in that many of the pieces collected here were written during WW2 while these events were still recent, and also because some of them discuss art and literature. Czapski was primarily a painter, although on the evidence of the books of his I’ve read, his writing is outstanding.
“Memories…” gathers together the title work, as well as 19 other pieces labelled as “Essays, Interviews, Letters (1943-1987)”. All are powerfully and beautifully written, ranging from memories of meetings with Anna Akhmatova to thoughts on ‘Blok and Inner Freedom’. Many of the works collected here were written whilst Czapski was travelling on diplomatic business, and they’re presented chronologically and usually dated. Often they were published in ‘Kultura’, a leading Polish-émigré literary-political magazine which ran from 1947 to 2000; and it’s clear from pieces like ‘Katyn and the Thaw’ that Czapski never stopped following world events closely, determined that the fate of his fellows from Starobielsk would not be forgotten.
‘The poet is a child of harmony. He has to fulfil the world a role in world culture,’ Blok says.
That thread of memory runs through most of the works collected in this volume, and in fact one of the longest pieces, ‘Recollections’ (from an interview conducted in 1971) makes fascinating reading as Czapski looks back over his life. He discusses his art; what a painter needs to be able to work, and to recognise when his work is not going well and he needs to abandon it; and explores the work of other artists like Chaim Soutine. In all of these pieces, his analysis is measured yet there’s an underlying passion in his prose, and that comes out most strongly in the title piece of the book.
“Memories of Starobielsk” is a litany of memory; whilst held in the camp. Czapski had no materials to write or draw or record things and so as soon as he was able, he put down onto paper as many of the people and events he could remember from the camps. He was obviously determined to record as much as he could, and no doubt took these memories with him when he set out to try to find the truth about what happened in Katyn. It’s a particularly powerful and moving piece, and I must admit my heart broke reading about all these creative, cultured, talented people who were blindly massacred. Truly, war is evil.
Not knowing contemporary man, I know eternal man, whose face is visible/shines through in art. Why does Egyptian sculpture give me something more than rapture, why is the drawing of a horse in a cave across a distance of fifteen thousand years closer to me than the best drawing from Degas’s last period?
Jozef Czapski was obviously an intelligent, humane man who lived through unspeakable times and tried to help his comrades as well as ensuring they weren’t forgotten. He also brought his impressive intellect to a number of subjects, both written and visual arts, and it’s clear he believed that culture was essential to humanity. When I was writing about his “Lectures on Proust…” I commented “It’s a testament to the power of words and the importance of literature that the deep love of those works of art helped to keep these prisoners sane whilst living through inhuman conditions.” I stand by that even more so, having now read more of his memories and more of his thoughts on art generally. As culture continues to be dumbed down all around us, we need to keep hold of the arts – I do believe they are what make us human, and I suspect Jozef Czapski would agree with that too. “Memories of Starobielsk” is a powerful, unforgettable book and kudos to NYRB for publishing this and his other works.
Review copy kindly provided by the publisher, for which many thanks!
Roger
Jul 26, 2022 @ 08:09:24
The wife of one of Stalin’s victims (Nadezhda Mandelstam?) is said to have preserved his unpublished works by learning them by heart for later publication.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 26, 2022 @ 10:06:32
Yes, I think you’re right, and I believe she wasn’t the only one…
madamebibilophile
Jul 26, 2022 @ 10:16:28
This sounds immensely powerful. Such important themes and subject, thanks to NYRB for having published this for new readers.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 26, 2022 @ 18:59:44
It is – his work touches on such difficult topics and horrific events, yet he holds onto his belief in art and culture which is wonderful.
Margot Kinberg
Jul 26, 2022 @ 12:08:45
What an interesting way to share his writing! Essays, letters, etc. really offer a perspective that just one sort of writing doesn’t necessarily do. And so many important topics covered! Little wonder you were drawn into this one! And I agree with Madamebibliophile – kudos to the publishers who bring this work to new audiences.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 26, 2022 @ 18:59:09
Yes, that variety of writing types was interesting, and all drew you back to that central thread of memorialising the lost and celebrating art. NYRB definitely need to be saluted for putting out his work!
JacquiWine
Jul 27, 2022 @ 14:59:51
While I don’t think this is for me, I can totally see why you were attracted to it, especially given the link to Anna Akhmatova. It’s so important that books like this continue to be published/reissued, lest we forget all that has happened…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 27, 2022 @ 20:00:24
No, this would not be for everyone, I agree. What’s alarming, really, is that things don’t seem to have improved since Czapski’s time. Dreadful wars are being fought, lies being told and the ordinary people are the ones who suffer – I wish we could learn from the past.
heavenali
Jul 27, 2022 @ 18:30:27
Gosh this does sound like it covers a lot of very powerful, difficult topics. As Jacqui says we certainly should be reminded of these things with publications of this kind, it’s important to remember. However, I couldn’t have read this at the moment.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 27, 2022 @ 19:59:05
No, it does have to be read at the right time, I think – it just called to me at the moment, and although there are difficult topics, I did relish the writing. Thank goodness fro NYRB!
1streading
Jul 28, 2022 @ 10:37:48
This does sound like it was worth the wait. I particularly like what you say about him storing things in his memory until he had a chance to draw them – remembering is clearly very important to him.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 28, 2022 @ 12:57:02
It definitely was – I guess maybe the pandemic affected publication date, but I’m glad it finally came out – such a good book. And yes – memory is obviously something he feels is vital and his records of the camps and those lost are heartbreaking.
mallikabooks15
Jul 30, 2022 @ 18:13:26
I was reminded by this of my recent read of the Arendt/Luxemburg book where music and poetry too were what gotLuxemburg through tough times in prison through various stints. Her optimism and ability to hope seemed to me so remarkable given what she faced and that’s what seems the case with Czapski too
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 30, 2022 @ 18:52:08
I think that the arts can have such an effect – perhaps as a reminder of what humans are capable of, in a contrast to some of the horrors they perpetrate. That certainly seems to be the case with Czapski…
Roger
Jul 31, 2022 @ 21:45:09
Someone said that if we wanted to send a message to aliens that showed what humans were capable of we should fire rockets into space carrying the complete works of Bach.
The aliens might think we were boasting though.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Aug 01, 2022 @ 20:11:34
I think we should boast about our artistic achievements – they might not zap us out of existence then!!!
TravellinPenguin
Jul 31, 2022 @ 04:31:13
Books like these are so interesting. I thought of you during that big heatwave you had. Wish I could have sent you some coolness from here. We’ve had more than enough!!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 31, 2022 @ 12:03:05
Yes, they are – give a real window into the past. As for the heatwave, it was hideous, and it’s still too muggy and hot for me – longing for Autumn!!