The Seizure of Power

novel by Miłosz

Also known as: “Zdobycie władzy”

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July 23, 2026

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The Seizure of Power is a novel by Czesław Miłosz, first published in French in 1953 as La prise du pouvoir and in Polish in 1955. The novel explores the impact of repressive regimes, specifically communism, on the human spirit. It delves into the themes of accommodation and the compromises intellectuals made under such systems. Miłosz, a Nobel Prize laureate, examined these issues through his writing, often reflecting his own experiences with political and social conflicts.12

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Czesław Miłosz
Literary works
…his novel Zdobycie władzy (1955; The Seizure of Power). His poetic works are noted for their classical style and their preoccupation with philosophical and political issues. An important example is Traktat poetycki (1957; Treatise on Poetry), which combines a defense of poetry with a history of Poland from 1918 to…
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…his novel Zdobycie władzy (1955; The Seizure of Power). His poetic works are noted for their classical style and their preoccupation with philosophical and political issues. An important example is Traktat poetycki (1957; Treatise on Poetry), which combines a defense of poetry with a history of Poland from 1918 to…
Read More