Melchior Wańkowicz

Melchior Wańkowicz (1892-1974) was a Polish journalist, writer, and historian. He is best known for his works on the history of Poland and its people, as well as his novels and short stories.

Early Life

Melchior Wańkowicz was born in 1892 in the small town of Łódź, Poland. His father was a lawyer and his mother was a teacher. He attended the University of Warsaw, where he studied law and philosophy. After graduating, he worked as a journalist for several newspapers and magazines.

Career

In the 1920s, Wańkowicz began writing books about the history of Poland. His first book, The History of Poland, was published in 1923 and was an instant success. He went on to write several more books on the subject, including The History of the Polish People (1925) and The History of the Polish Nation (1927).

In the 1930s, Wańkowicz began writing novels and short stories. His most famous works include The White Eagle (1932), The Black Eagle (1934), and The Red Eagle (1936). He also wrote several biographies, including those of Polish leaders such as Józef Piłsudski and Ignacy Paderewski.

During World War II, Wańkowicz was a member of the Polish resistance movement. He wrote several books about the war, including The Polish War (1941) and The Polish People in the War (1944).

Later Life

After the war, Wańkowicz continued to write about the history of Poland. He wrote several books about the Polish people, including The Polish People in the 20th Century (1947) and The Polish People in the 21st Century (1951). He also wrote several novels, including The White Eagle Returns (1954) and The Black Eagle Returns (1956).

In the 1960s, Wańkowicz wrote several books about the history of the Jewish people in Poland. His most famous work in this field was The Jews in Poland (1966).

Death

Melchior Wańkowicz died in 1974 at the age of 82. He is remembered as one of the most important Polish writers and historians of the 20th century.