„Marriage”. Invigilation of Zofia and Kazimierz Romanowiczowie in the light of preserved documents of the Security Service

Abstract

Zofia and Kazimierz Romanowiczowie are eminent figures of Polish post-war emigration. They lived and worked in Paris where they created and ran for years Libella publishing house and bookstore as well as Galerie Lambert. In the gallery works of artists from all over the world were shown. In the bookstore free copies of books published in the West were distributed to the Poles. The Romanowiczowie also sent them to Poland. Libella was one of the points of secret distribution of books beyond the iron curtain. Documents preserved in the Institute of National Memory prove that the activity of the Romanowicze was carefully followed by the officers of the Security Services. A case against them was set named „Marriage” Its aim was to obtain the Romanowicze for cooperation. The decisive refusal from the owners of Libella had various consequences – among others the ban on printing Romanowiczowa’s books in domestic publishing houses.