Jan Brzechwa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Brzechwa
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Jan Brzechwa
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| Born | Jan Wiktor Lesman 15 August 1898 Żmerynka, Podolia |
| Died | 2 July 1966 (aged 67) Warsaw, Poland |
| Resting place | Powązki Cemetery |
| Occupation | Poet, Lawyer |
| Language | Polish |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Notable works | Tańcowała igła z nitką Akademia Pana Kleksa |
Jan Brzechwa (born Jan Wiktor Lesman on August 15, 1898 – died July 2, 1966) was a famous Polish poet, writer, and lawyer. He is best known for his wonderful books and poems for children. Jan was born into a Polish family with Jewish roots.
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Jan Brzechwa's Early Life
Jan Brzechwa was born in a place called Żmerynka, in a region known as Podolia. His father worked as a railway engineer. Because of his father's job, Jan spent much of his childhood traveling. He explored many parts of Eastern Poland with his family.
Jan went to a special high school run by Jesuits. Later, he moved from Podolia to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. There, he studied law at the University of Warsaw.
War Service and Legal Career
During the Polish–Soviet War (a conflict between Poland and Soviet Russia), Jan volunteered to serve. He joined a group of university students. He was honored for his brave service during the war.
Jan started writing in 1920, publishing his work in funny magazines. He became a lawyer and worked for the Polish Society of Authors and Composers. He was very good at copyright law, which protects writers' and artists' work.
Family Life
Jan Brzechwa was a cousin of another well-known Polish poet, Bolesław Leśmian. Jan was married three times during his life. His first wife was Maria Sunderland. Later, he married Karolina Lentowa, and then Janina Magajewska. His daughter, Krystyna, from his first marriage, grew up to become a painter.
Jan Brzechwa's Literary Works
Jan Brzechwa was not his real name; it was a pseudonym. A pseudonym is a made-up name a writer uses. The name Brzechwa means 'fletching', which is the part of an arrow that helps it fly straight. Most of his poems were written in a musical style. They often used an 8-syllable rhythm, which was very popular in Polish poetry.
First Books and Famous Poems
In 1926, Jan published his first book of poems for adults, called Oblicza zmyślone (Imaginary Visages). His first collection of poems for children came out in 1937. It was titled Tańcowała igła z nitką (Danced the Needle with the Thread).
One of his most famous poems is Chrząszcz (The Beetle). It's known for having one of the hardest phrases to say in Polish. Even Polish adults find it tricky! The first line, "W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie" (In the town of Szczebrzeszyn a beetle buzzes in the reeds), is a very famous Polish tongue-twister. Many of the sounds in this line are buzzing sounds.
Brzechwa also wrote many other popular children's poems. He translated works from Russian literature into Polish. These included writings by famous authors like Aleksandr Pushkin, Sergey Yesienin, and Vladimir Mayakovskiy.
The Magical World of Pan Kleks
Jan Brzechwa created a long series of children's books about the adventures of Pan Kleks. Pan Kleks is the headmaster of a magical school. These books tell stories about his amazing academy and his students.
Many of the Pan Kleks books were turned into movies in the 1980s. Another one of his poems, Pchła Szachrajka (Adventures of a Cheating Flea), became an animated film in 1989.
Some of Brzechwa's writings have been translated into English. Jan Brzechwa passed away in Warsaw in 1966. He is buried in the Powązki Cemetery, which is a very famous cemetery in the city.
Jan Brzechwa's Works
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