“The Career of Nikodem Dyzma” was written by Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz in 1931 as a critique of the political establishment at the time. The novel initially appeared in episodes in ABC magazine and quickly gained popularity. Despite parts of it being confiscated, the writer persevered and wrote a sequel. The book tells the story of an unemployed provincial who accidentally infiltrates high society. For a long time, the protagonist successfully plays the role of a worldly man, a specialist, and a frequenter of salons. He takes on high-ranking positions and receives state honors. He is eventually unmasked by the eccentric Żorż Ponimirski, who is considered insane. However, Dyzma remains unpunished, as interwar Poland, much like contemporary Poland, is a country where it is difficult to be discredited, and new Dyzmas emerge regularly.
In 1951, all his novels were censored and withdrawn from libraries.
In Poland, Dyzma became a symbol of cunning, careerism, rudeness and lack of scruples.
The book, was made into a 1956 film, then into a 1980 television miniseries starring Roman Wilhelmi, and into a 2002 film starring Cezary Pazura.
All 7 episodes of the 1980 TV series can be streamed for free on YouTube. Highly recommended.
The book is available at Amazon. Get it before it’s banned.
