PORADECKI Jerzy

Born on 10 June 1942 in Lodz into a working-class family; son of Jan Poradecki and Marta, née Maurer. He attended Grammar School No. V in Lodz while taking piano lessons at the People's Institute of Music (Ludowy Instytut Muzyczny). After completing advanced secondary education in 1960, he studied Polish philology at the University of Lodz (UŁ). He graduated with a master's degree in 1965, with his thesis addressing Cyprian Kamil Norwid's notions of poetic language. He was subsequently appointed assistant at the Department of Twentieth Century Literature at UŁ (which later became the Department of Contemporary Literature at the Institute of Polish Philology with a Chair in the Literature of the Romantic Period, the Interwar Period and Contemporary Literature at the Faculty of Philology). During this period he made his debut as a literary historian with the piece, Uwagi o Norwidowym rozumieniu oryginalności (Notes on Norwid's Understanding of Originality), that was published in the journal "Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego" (series I, vol. 65). He made his debut as a critic with a review of Stanisław Czernik's memoirs Zachód słońca (Sunset). The review, titled Czy silva rerum? (A silva rerum?), was published in "Odgłosy" (no. 19). He collaborated with this weekly until 1978, serving on its editorial board in 1966/67. His articles and reviews also appeared in periodicals including "Osnowa" (1966–68), "Nowy Wyraz" (1972–74; where he also served on the editorial board) and in "Prace Polonistyczne" (1972–73, and 1977). His research initially focused on contemporary Polish prose, while later he turned to twentieth-century lyric poetry. He was awarded a doctoral degree from UŁ in 1973 for his dissertation Pisarstwo Wilhelma Macha (Wilhem Mach's Writings), which was supervised by Prof. Aniela Kowalska. He gave lectures for teachers and schoolchildren in Lodz and in surrounding cities. He was involved for many years in the activities of the Lodz branch of the University of the Third Age, which specialized in adult education. He collaborated with the Union of Polish Medic-Writers (later the Polish Physician-Writers Union), working particularly closely with the local Lodz branch in roles including editor of three editions of the almanac "Spektrum" and as organizer of literary festivals. In 2007, he received was awarded the honorary distinction Przyjaciel Unii (Friend of the Union). From 1978 to 1990 he was chair of the Lodz Branch of the Adam Mickiewicz Literary Society, also serving on the Society's Executive Board from 1992. He was a member of the jury of several literary competitions. He joined the Polish Writers' Union (ZLP), remaining a member until its dissolution in 1983, while in 1991 he joined the Polish Writers' Association (SPP). He was awarded a habilitation degree from UŁ in 1988 for his study Aż tu moje skrzydło sięga. Studium o dziejach motywu lotu poety w poezji polskiej (My wings stretch this far: A Study of the Motif of Flight in Polish Poetry). In 1990, he was appointed associate professor at UŁ. In 1991, he founded his own publishing house, Biblioteka, where he published contemporary poetry and prose. He also edited the publication series Rzecz poetycka (Poetic Matter). His interest in twentieth-century painting led him to found Galeria T at his publishing house. The gallery operated from 1991 to 2002, with Poradecki writing the introductions to exhibition catalogues. He had an interest in classical music, particularly contemporary composers, establishing a large collection of records. Between 1993 and 2000, he was member of the Publishing Committee established by the Lodz Voivode and the Mayor of the city of Lodz. He received the award of the Department of Culture and Art of Lodz City Council in 1994. In 1996, he joined the team of regular contributors to the monthly "Tygiel Kultury". In 2000, he was made state-appointed professor. In 2004, he joined the editorial board of the journal "Prace Polonistyczne". In 2008, he was appointed head of the Chair of Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Polish Literature at the Institute of Polish Philology at UŁ. He did not live to complete the volume Zbiór poetów Łodzi i Ziemi Łódzkiej (A Collection of poets from Lodz and the Lodz Region) that he was working on up to his death on 29 October 2008. He received the Gold Honour of UŁ in 1985, the UŁ Medal for Service to Society and Science, and the Gold Cross of Merit in 1990. He married the philologist Ewa Juszyńska in 1968. He had a son, the philologist Mateusz (b. 1972), who took on the Biblioteka publishing house after his death. He died in Lodz and is buried at the city's Doły Catholic Cemetery.