Born: 10 November 1884, Poland
Died: 17 December 1954
Country most active: Poland
Also known as: Zofja, Zofia Gorzechowski-Nalkowska, Zofia Rygier-Nalkowska, Nalkovskoi
Polish writer Zofia Nałkowska was born into a family of intellectuals during the period when her country was part of the Russian empire. She attended the Uniwersytet Latający (“Flying University”), a secret program that operated from 1885 to 1905 to provide education to Polish youth without Russian officials’ censorship and control. She went on to become one of the country’s most distinguished feminist writers. Her novels, novellas and plays are characterized by socio-realism and psychological depth, and she was also a prolific essay writer.
From 1928, Nałkowska was vice-president of the Polish PEN Club, an international writers’ association. She served as the executive member of the prestigious Polish Academy of Literature from 1933 to 1939. During the German occupation, she worked in underground literary activities. After World War II, she participated in the International Commission for the Investigation of Hitler’s Crimes in Poland.
Nałkowska was also politically active both before and after World War II. She supported the post-war communist authorities, becoming a deputy of the State National Council and later a deputy of the National Assembly of the Polish People’s Republic.