The book: Sentenced 1951
A first-hand account of a Stalinist prison, seen through the eyes of a young political prisoner. Printed underground in 1988 — now in a new edition.
The book
A first-hand account of a Stalinist prison, seen through the eyes of a young political prisoner sentenced in 1951 to ten years for his part in the underground. In 1988 a book like this could only be printed illegally, beyond the censor's reach.
W lochach socjalizmu is a political prisoner's memoir: in 1951 the District Military Court in Kielce sentenced Bogumił Studziński to ten years, and he served his sentence in Rawicz prison until 1955. It appeared in 1988 through Poland's underground (samizdat) press — the clandestine publisher „Kurs”.
The new edition is published in print and as an e-book, with a historical introduction, notes and documents. The text is in Polish; the English translation, Sentenced 1951: In the Dungeons, is in preparation.
What the new edition contains
- The complete text of the memoir. The author's voice stays untouched: we correct only obvious printing errors and modernise spelling, and every editorial intervention is marked.
- A historical introduction that sets the memoir in the realities of its time.
- Notes explaining the realities, names and abbreviations.
- Photographs and documents.
1988 · 2001 · New
Three editions of one book
The descriptions of the 1988 and 2001 editions come from library catalogues and bibliographies of underground publishing.
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1988
The underground edition
Published by Wydawnictwo „Kurs”, 130 pages, offset-printed from typescript, card covers, no ISBN. It appeared a year after the author's death, in Poland's underground ‘second circulation’ — beyond the censor's reach. The print run is unknown.
Sources: Museum of Free Speech; WorldCat
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2001
The second edition
Zalesie Górne, no publisher named, 239 pages. Recorded in the Museum of Free Speech bibliography; not listed in the National Library of Poland catalogue.
Sources: Museum of Free Speech
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New
The new edition
Published by Unseen — in print and as an e-book, with a historical introduction, notes and documents. The English translation, Sentenced 1951: In the Dungeons, is in preparation.
Editions and prices
The new edition is being prepared by the publisher Unseen. Price and publication date will be announced soon.
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W lochach socjalizmu — e-book (EPUB), Polish edition DRM-free EPUB 3 with a watermark. Text in Polish. Pop-up notes, printed-page markers for citation, 15 photographs with captions. Works on e-readers, phones and computers. · ISBN: assigned before release
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Sentenced 1951: In the Dungeons — e-book (EPUB) DRM-free EPUB 3 with a watermark. The complete memoir in English, with 87 pop-up footnotes of the translator, printed-page markers for citation and 15 photographs with captions. Works on e-readers, phones and computers. · ISBN: assigned before release
Last updated:
Read on
- The authorIn the underground from 1945, political prisoner 1950–1955, lawyer, co-founder of the ROPCiO human-rights movement, interned in 1981. Life, timeline, sources.
- QuestionsWho was Bogumił Studziński, what is W lochach socjalizmu about, when and where was it published, where did he serve his sentence — short answers with sources.
- PressA description of W lochach socjalizmu (Sentenced 1951: In the Dungeons) and its author, verified facts with sources, cover images and a press contact.