Faber est quisque suae fortunae Aleksander Wirpsza – Leszek Szaruga

Abstract

The article by Walentyna Sobol and Teresa Chynczewska-Hennel is dedicated to the life and work Aleksander Wirpszi’s Colleague – Leszek Szaruga (1946–2024), a true scholar, literary scholar, writer, poet, as well as translator of German, Russian and Ukrainian literature. A great Friend of Ukraine, who always wished free Ukraine peace, development, and a happy future among the nations of Europe. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of his monographs, including the scholar’s book 'Ukraiński Kalejdoskop' ('Ukrainian Kaleidoscope'), which was written as a lively reaction to the beginning of the Russian aggression against independent Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It contains five extremely eloquent essays. Leszek Szaruga writes convincingly that the obstacle to the Moscow power freeing itself from a sense of inferiority is precisely the ‘threat of an independent Ukraine’, a country with more legitimate rights to trace its lineage directly to Kievan Rus. The book 'Ukraiński Kalejdoskop' (2022) is not one, but a prospective study among the Author’s other publications from recent years: 'Znaki przesilenia' (2017), 'Deutsche vita' (2020), 'Przestrzenie literatury i okolice' (2021), 'Poetki, poeci i inne' (2023), a collection of feuilletons 'Wyprasowania' (2024), and finally – fundamental studies 'Tożsamość Międzymorza' (2024). In the extensive volume (633 pages), which was published aft er the Author’s sudden death, he repeated and developed his earlier theses, including the bitter and timely thought that the West does not seem to fully understand the key importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty for the future of the continent.