Nadzieja Drucka with her husband Maurycy O’Brien de Lacy and children
Nadzieja Drucka with her husband Maurycy O’Brien de Lacy and children
Maurycy O’Brien de Lacy with his wife Nadzieja Drucka and children
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8375651907/?tag=2022091-20
social activist translator writer
Nadzieja Drucka was born on January 17, 1898 in Warsaw, at that time Kingdom of Poland, Russian Empire into a family of a Russian General, Professor of the Military Academy of Law, Sergei Drutsky, who belonged to the princely Drutsky family, and Polish Maria Safonowicz. When Nadzieja was 4 years old, the family returned to St. Petersburg.
In 1914, Nadzieja graduated from Smolny Institute (Finishing school) in St. Petersburg.
After the outbreak of the World War I, Nadzieja Drucka moved to Moscow with her family, where she graduated from medical courses and passed the exam for medicine, but didn’t begin her studies and went to the front as a nurse of the Red Cross. At the front, she met Polish aristocrat of Irish descent and future President of Grodno Maurycy O'Brien de Lacey. They got married in Moscow in November 1917. In August 1918, they moved to Augustówek village to O'Brien de Lacey’s family estate. They stayed there till 1939.
After the occupation of the Eastern Territories by the Soviet army, they went to the Mazowsze region. Nadzieja quickly mastered Polish and devoted herself to literary and charity work. She was socially active, was appointed Vice-chairwoman of the Circle of Earthlings and became member of the Charity Society. Drucka was the Vice-president of the local branch of the Polish Red Cross. She founded the Society of Literature and Arts Amateurs named after famous Polish writer Eliza Orzeszko in Grodno , and was its President for 12 years. She invited to her home in Augustówek many well-known writers, such as Polish writers Maria Dąbrowska, Julian Tuwim, Jan Parandowski, and Stanisław Witkiewicz. Polish writer Zofia Nałkowska portrayed Drucka in the Diary. They became friends, and Drucka joined the Polish branch of the PEN International (worldwide association of writers) in 1930. She also maintained contacts with the representatives of the Russian emigration in Poland. Together with her husband, she organized annual summer camps for local poor people.
During World War II, she lived in General Government (German zone of occupation in Warsaw), where she taught foreign languages. She participated in the underground pedagogical activities, served in the detachment of the Armia Krajowa (Home Army) under the pseudonym "Literat", and took part in the Warsaw Uprising within the Warsaw Military District of the Armia Krajowa. She was a nurse in a field hospital. After 1945, she remained in Poland. From 1947 to 1949 she worked in the Warsaw Reconstruction Office, after which she became engaged in literary activities. In 1925, she published her first book in Polish "Zwycięstwo" (Victory). Drucka translated many books from Russian into Polish, including works by Iwan Gonczarow, Konstantin Paustowski, Yury Tynyanov, Olga Forsz. She lived in Warsaw till her death on August 29, 1986.
Nadzieja Drucka was a social activist of her time, she took an active part in charity and literary activities, translated many well-known authors into Polish. She was a Vice-president of the local branch of the Polish Red Cross. Drucka founded the Society of Literature and Arts Amateurs named after famous Polish writer Eliza Orzeszko in Grodno, and was its President for 12 years. Together with her husband Maurycy O’Brien de Lacy, they hosted Polish literary elite in their family estate in Augustówek.
Zwycięstwo (Victory)
Niepotrzebne dzieci (Unnecessary children)
Było ich siedmioro (There were seven of them)
Krzywda (Harm)
Droga do sławy (The road to fame)
Quotations:
“Men in their great self-importance are not able to understand that not every woman responds to them. They are looking for some special reasons.”
“It is not true that childhood is a time of complete happiness. Ever since the child is conscious, he often feels like a drunk in the fog, constantly banging on the sharp edges of life, not understanding their existence.”
“Regardless of age, a woman appreciates company of a man who noticed and chose her from many, rather than the most cordial attitude of a newly met woman.”
“Independence is the concept of happiness expressed in the shortest form.”
“Victims can be borne for ideas, but never by one man for another. There will be revenge.”
“Real women's friendships are born only in the early youth or even in the childhood. Later, they are only nice, good acquaintances.”
“Very good and very bad events come suddenly. Nothing foretells them, neither feelings, nor first steps.”
She supported various charity activities. Together with her husband, she organized summer camps for poor people.
At the front, she met Polish aristocrat of Irish descent and future President of Grodno Maurycy O'Brien de Lacey. They got married in Moscow in November 1917.
Polish writer Zofia Nałkowska portrayed Drucka in the Diary. They became friends.
