Mystical Experiences in the Fiction of Edward Stachura

Abstract

Summary This article examines some aspects of the fiction of Edward Stachura, especially those that lend to it an aura of mystery and unreality. It cannot be denied that some kind of mystical experience (usually wrapped up in borderline situations of death or extreme suffering) lies at heart of his novels and short stories, and remains the object of his unflagging explorations. His fascination with the strange and elusive realms of human experiences can be traced back to his debut novel, All the Brilliance (Ca a jaskrawość). It grew more intense each year to reach its climax in 1977–1979, the time he wrote a collection of short stories Self (Się) and a loose collection of philosophical musings Fabula rasa. These three books seem to be most representative for the evolution of Stachura’s attitude towards ‘the beyond’. Moreover, they provide the best insights into Stachura’s mind, as revealed through his fictional alter egos Edmund Szerucki, Michał Kątny, I-Man and Man-Nobody.