Jaroslaw Iwaszkiewicz (1894-1980) was one of Poland's outstanding twentieth-century writers. Best remembered for his novels and stories, he also wrote poetry, plays and essays. He was an active participant in Warsaw's cultural life between the wars as a member of the Skamander group of poets. During the wartime occupation he helped a number of writers and artists to hide. After the war he was editor of Poland's leading literary journal, and chairman of the Polish Writers Union.