Polish-Ukrainian Relations in Maksym Rylsky’s Critical Reception by Antoni Serednicki

Abstract

This article examines the multifaceted Polish-Ukrainian creative relations of Maksym Rylsky through the critical reception of Antoni Serednicki–a prominent literary scholar and one of the most active and consistent promoters of cultural and historical studies between the two neighboring nations. In over two hundred publications, Serednicki explored the literary legacy of Polish writers as well as numerous issues regarding Polish-Ukrainian literary interactions. The study notes that Rylsky’s creative contacts with Poland have been investigated by both Ukrainian (e.g., H. Verves, R. Radyshevskyi, Y. Polishchuk, I. Kostankevych) and Polish scholars (e.g., Z. Grosbart, M. Jakubiec, J. Hryckowian, W. Poczynajło, L. Siryk, F. Nieuważny). However, Serednicki made a vital contribution to deepening the scholarly assessment of Rylsky’s role in fostering these bilateral relations through works such as Myśli Mickiewicza (1958), Rozmowa z poetą przyjaźni (1959), Siewca przyjaźni (1964), Utwory M. Rylskiego w prasie PRL (1965), Popularyzatorzy literatury ukraińskiej w PRL (1966), Mickiewicz i Ukraina (1968, 1999), and Władysław Broniewski (1967). Special attention is devoted to Serednicki’s study Maksym Rylski oraz Polska i Polacy, which analyzes the critic’s observations regarding the biographical stages of Rylsky’s stays in Poland, as well as his interactions with Polish public, educational, journalistic, and artistic circles. The author highlights Rylsky’s close friendships with numerous Polish literary scholars and writers, including Leon Kruczkowski, Władysław Broniewski, Ryszard Dobrowolski, Jerzy Andrzejewski, Wacław Kubacki, and Marian Jakubiec. Furthermore, the article examines Serednicki’s analysis of Rylsky’s literary research in the field of Polish poetry, his translation activities, and the poems dedicated to him by Polish authors.