The fi rst Polish edition of The Land of Ulro appeared in France in Maisons
Laffi tte in 1977, published by Instytut Literacki. The preface to this
edition was written by Father Józef Sadzik, a philosopher specializing in
Heidegger, and the director of the Pallotine Centre for Dialogue in Surcouf
Street, Paris. Following his advice and encouragement, Miłosz, who had
been connected to Father Sadzik through a long-standing friendship and
mutual respect, began to translate the biblical texts which Sadzik had scrupulously
published in Editions du Dialogue (in August 1980 the latter died
suddenly of heart failure, holding photocopies of The Book of Job, never
to witness the Solidarity victory in Gdańsk, nor his friend’s receipt of the
Noble Prize).

The fi rst Polish edition of The Land of Ulro appeared in France in Maisons
Laffi tte in 1977, published by Instytut Literacki. The preface to this
edition was written by Father Józef Sadzik, a philosopher specializing in
Heidegger, and the director of the Pallotine Centre for Dialogue in Surcouf
Street, Paris. Following his advice and encouragement, Miłosz, who had
been connected to Father Sadzik through a long-standing friendship and
mutual respect, began to translate the biblical texts which Sadzik had scrupulously
published in Editions du Dialogue (in August 1980 the latter died
suddenly of heart failure, holding photocopies of The Book of Job, never
to witness the Solidarity victory in Gdańsk, nor his friend’s receipt of the
Noble Prize).