Andrzej Szczypiorski (1924-2000) - prose writer, journalist, screen writer. He took part in the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, and was a prisoner in the Sachsenhausen camp. His professional career began as editor of the Warsaw daily 'Życie Warszawy', later as literary director at the Silesian Theatre (Teatr Śląski) in Katowice, in the period 1956 - 1958 an advisor to the Polish embassy in Denmark, and later editor of Polish Radio in Warsaw. He was for many years associated with the weekly 'Polityka and the monthly 'Odra'. In the period 1989 - 1991 he was a senator in parliament. After 1955, when his first collection of short stories came out. He has brought out more than 20 volumes of prose, including stories, reportage collections and features, sketches and essays, including 'Behind the wall of sodomy' (1963),
'Mass for the town of Arras' (1971), 'And they missed Emaus' (1974), 'From the martial law diary', London (1983). The story 'The beginning' (1986) became a great success not only in German-speaking countries; it was honoured with many awards (including the Austrian State Prize for European literature and the Nelly Sachs Award). After the success of 'The Beginning' more acclaimed works by the author appeared: 'Night, day and night' (1991), 'Self-portrait of a woman' (1994), and also a collection of short stories (including 'American whisky' - a collection that was awarded the German Catholics' Prize for Art and Culture), 'Playing with fire' (1999). He also writes for children and young people.