Czesław i Krystyna Bednarczykowie – wydawcy, drukarze, poeci

This essay is dedicated to an eminent Polish émigré couple in Great Britain, Krystyna Bednarczyk (1923–2011) and Czesław Bednarczyk (1912–1994) who organized one of the most influential cultural centres in London starting in 1950. They initiated their publishing venture by editing small poetry collections written by young Polish poets in exile, illustrated by talented artists. The company was registered by the U.K. authorities as the Poets’ and Painters’ Press. In 1954 they rented a unit under the Arches near Charing Cross and Waterloo and turned it into a successful printing house which eventually closed in 1992. Polish writers from all over the world became their clients, as well as a number of British and other authors and publishers. From 1966 until 1980 they also printed and edited a quarterly magazine of poetry, prose, translations, graphics and artworks. Its 57 issues had contributions from over 100 Polish writers, including at least 30 native Polish poets. The essay is mainly based on published memoirs by Czesław Bednarczyk and unpublished correspondence between the editorial couple and their writer-clients. The author cites positive and negative opinions of Krystyna and Czesław Bednarczyk’s works from various sources, including well known names such as Czesław Miłosz and Jerzy Giedroyć.