Start Edmunda Sulime

The work is a realistic portrayal of a young man starting an independent life in interwar Poland. The main character Edmund Sulima arrives in a big city (Kraków) full of youthful enthusiasm, ideals and ambitions. The novel follows his "start" – entering the adult world, the theater environment, journalistic and literary circles, first loves, friendships and conflicts with his environment.

Nowakowski, who himself was closely connected to the theater world, skillfully depicts the atmosphere of interwar Poland: economic instability, social divisions, the struggle for existence and the conflict of ideals with harsh reality. The novel is autobiographically colored and brings a vivid picture of theater life, artistic ambitions, bohemianism and the everyday struggles of young intellectuals.

The style is dynamic, realistic and somewhat ironic – the author follows the hero's growth, decline and maturation with understanding, but also with mild criticism. The work is one of Nowakowski's better novels and received recognition in its time (the Krakow Prize).

For the Croatian reader, this is an interesting insight into Polish interwar literature, similar to some of Krleža's works or other authors from that period that describe youth and artistic life. The novel is readable, emotional and nostalgic, with an emphasis on universal themes: the search for meaning, love, career and dealing with disappointment.