Association of Polish Writers Abroad

The Association of Polish Writers Abroad (Polish: Związek Pisarzy Polskich na Obczyźnie, ZPPnO) is a creative membership organization founded in 1945 in London to bring together Polish writers living outside Poland. It describes itself as an association of writers who reside abroad or who, while living in Poland, carry on creative activity connected with the émigré tradition. Its stated purpose is cultural and publishing work, material assistance to writers, and the preservation of Polish literary heritage in exile. The Association is best known for its publishing activity. It has issued studies such as Literatura polska na Obczyźnie, edited by Tymon Terlecki, and since 1976 it has published the literary journal Pamiętnik Literacki, currently edited by Regina Wasiak-Taylor. It also runs the Ośrodek Badań Dziedzictwa Emigracji Polskiej (Research Centre for the Heritage of Polish Emigration), which partners with literary festivals and academic conferences, and it organizes an annual literary prize that has been awarded since 1951. Over its history the Association has been led by a series of prominent émigré figures, including Stanisław Stroński, Antoni Bogusławski, Tymon Terlecki, Wiesław Wohnout, Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko, Teodozja Lisiewicz, Kazimierz Sowiński, Józef Garliński, Krystyna Bednarczyk and Andrzej Krzeczunowicz. Its literary prize has recognized writers such as Jan Lechoń, Kazimierz Wierzyński, Marian Hemar, Gustaw Herling-Grudziński, Czesław Miłosz, Sławomir Mrożek and many others. Today the Association remains active from its London base, maintaining a website, publishing Pamiętnik Literacki, holding general meetings, and participating in Polish and international literary events. It is a non-profit membership body rather than a commercial company, but it functions as a durable institutional brand within Polish émigré culture.

The Association of Polish Writers Abroad was founded in 1945 in London, in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, when large numbers of Polish writers found themselves outside Poland. It was established as a creative association for writers living abroad and for those in Poland who continued creative work linked to the émigré tradition. From its London base it became one of the central institutions of Polish émigré literary life. In its early decades the Association combined cultural, publishing and welfare functions. It organized material assistance for writers in need and undertook major publishing projects, including the collective study Literatura polska na Obczyźnie edited by Tymon Terlecki, which documented Polish literary output outside the country. In 1951 it established a literary prize that became one of the most prestigious awards in émigré letters; its laureates have included Jan Lechoń, Kazimierz Wierzyński, Marian Hemar, Gustaw Herling-Grudziński, Czesław Miłosz, Sławomir Mrożek and many other leading figures. Leadership of the Association reflected the wider émigré establishment. Chairmen included Stanisław Stroński, Antoni Bogusławski, Tymon Terlecki, Wiesław Wohnout, Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko (1965–1966), Teodozja Lisiewicz (1968–1974), Kazimierz Sowiński (1974–1975), Józef Garliński (1975–2005), Krystyna Bednarczyk (2005–2010) and Andrzej Krzeczunowicz (2010–2020). Józef Garliński's long chairmanship spanned three decades and helped stabilize the organization during and after the Cold War. A major development came in 1976, when the Association began publishing the journal Pamiętnik Literacki. The journal became its flagship publication and continues to appear, with Regina Wasiak-Taylor as editor. The Association also created the Ośrodek Badań Dziedzictwa Emigracji Polskiej (Research Centre for the Heritage of Polish Emigration), which carries out research and partners with literary festivals and academic conferences. After 1989 and the end of communist rule in Poland, the Association's role shifted. Its members were no longer cut off from the country, and the organization increasingly worked to integrate émigré literary heritage into Polish national culture. It maintained its London headquarters, held regular general meetings, and continued its prize and publishing programs. In the 2020s it remains active, announcing new volumes of Pamiętnik Literacki, supporting conferences on Polish émigré women writers, and participating in intergenerational literary festivals in Poland. Its website documents its history, authorities, members and statutes, presenting the Association as a bridge between the émigré past and contemporary Polish literary life.

• 2026

  Participation in conferences and literary festivals; Jerzy Giedroyc commemorated.

• 2025

  General meeting communiqué published.

• 2010

  Andrzej Krzeczunowicz serves as chairman (2010–2020).

• 2005

  Krystyna Bednarczyk serves as chairman (2005–2010).

• 1976

  Association begins publishing Pamiętnik Literacki.

• 1975

  Józef Garliński begins long chairmanship (1975–2005).

• 1974

  Kazimierz Sowiński serves as chairman (1974–1975).

• 1968

  Teodozja Lisiewicz serves as chairman (1968–1974).

• 1965

  Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko serves as chairman (1965–1966).

• 1951

  Literary prize established.

• 1945

  Association founded in London.

A non-profit émigré literary institution preserving Polish writing abroad through publishing, prizes and research.

• Pamiętnik Literacki

• Literatura polska na Obczyźnie

• Annual literary prize

1. 1Związek Pisarzy Polskich na Obczyźnie – official websitezppno.org
2. 2Association of Polish Writers Abroad – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Związek Pisarzy Polskich na Obczyźnie – Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org