The book is a collection of Zygmunt Mycielski’s writings published before and in the first few years after the Second World War. It opens with literary pieces – stories published by the young author in the Polish press as well as two post-war stories. Next comes a selection of Mycielski’s reviews and music-related articles as well as speeches delivered during the Polish Composers’ Union or the Culture Council events. They are complemented by journalistic pieces dealing with important social topics (Kielce pogrom, Skiwski’s case). Ucieczki z pięciolinii [Escapes from the Stave] provides an insight into the beginnings of Zygmunt Mycielski’s activity as a writer, going back to the 1930s. In addition, it provides a mirror reflection of the world of Polish music of the first post-war decade, with its ambitions and problems, foremost among them being the increasing political indoctrination. With his contributions Mycielski often responds to the requirements of the day, looking for solutions beneficial to the development of culture. In doing so, he always upholds the artistic value of music.

By including in this volume a number of short stories and contributions that go beyond the field of music, I want to emphasise that the music critic and reviewer should not narrow his or her horizons to just technical issues relating to this art. Let the readers judge for themselves what I thought was needed, necessary or possible and permissible to be said during this period (“From the author”, p. 7).