Gala of the Historic Kazimierz Moczarski Prize of Warsaw, the capitol city
On Sunday, November 30, the National Library hosted a gala awarding the Historic Kazimierz Moczarski Prize of Warsaw, the capitol city. It was the 17th edition of one of the most important Polish prizes awarded to books discussing the modern history of Poland.
The laureates
The competition jury assessed 115 publications and 5 nominations, selecting the winner book: Niezłomni czy realiści? Polskie podziemie antykomunistyczne bez patosu (Steadfast or realists? Polish anti-Communist underground) by Rafał Wnuk and Sławomir Poleszak.
The authors received statuettes – replicas of the famous pencil sharpener of Kazimierz Moczarski – and a money prize of PLN 50K.
In their monograph the laureates attempt to demythologize the post-war anti-Communists underground, presenting it without pathos and simplifications.
The Kazimierz Moczarski Youth History Clubs have awarded their own prize – a Pencil. It went to Bartosz Panek for the book Zboże rosło jak las. Pamięć o pegeerach. (Cereals grew as forests. Memories of state-run farms). These clubs promote readership of historical books among college students.
The prize
The Capitol City of Warsaw Historical Prize was established in 2018. Every year the jury made up of renowned experts awards outstanding books discussing modern Polish history – publications important for both researchers and a broad array of readers.
Kazimierz Moczarski, the patron of the prize, was a journalist, lawyer, the National Army (AK, Armia Krajowa) soldier. He is the author of Rozmowy z katem (Discussions with an executioner) – one of the most important testimonies of post-war documentary literature.
The organisers
The organiser and prize founder is the capitol city of Warsaw. Co-organisers are Dom Spotkań z Historią (the House of Meetings with History) and the Kazimierz and Zofia Moczarski Foundation. The National Library is a partner of the prize.