Quick Facts
Biography
Waldemar Łysiak (born 22 March 1944) is a bestselling Polish writer, art historian and journalist, who has written under his own name as well as the pseudonyms 'Valdemar Baldhead' (a rough translation of his name), 'Archibald', 'Mark W. Kingden', 'Rezerwowy Ł.'. He is notable as an author of numerous books on the Napoleonic era, both historical and fiction. He also owns a large number of rare prints and manuscripts, among others the poems by Norwid and the only surviving copy of Kochanowski's Treny.
He is well known for his traditional and deeply anti-communist views, and is the father of Tomasz Łysiak, who is a well-known radio journalist, actor and a fantasy writer.
Łysiak publishes for polish weekly news magazines "Uważam Rze" (since 2011) and "Do Rzeczy" (since January 2013).
Education
Łysiak attended the Bolesław Prus High School in Warsaw, and went on to study architecture at the Warsaw Technical University, graduating in 1968. He later studied History of Art at the University of Rome as well as the international Centre of Conservation Study in Rome. In 1977 he gained a Doctorate from the Warsaw Technical University. His thesis was titled 'Napoleon's Doctrine of Fortification'. He lectured on culture and civilization at the Department of Architecture, Warsaw Technical University.
Controversy
Łysiak's works are often controversial politically. He began this theme with the trilogy Dobry (Good), Konkwista (Conquest) and Najlepszy (The Best), which alluded to events surrounding the end of the PRL (People's Republic of Poland) and the beginning of III RP (Third Republic of Poland), and took this further with the Rzeczpospolita kłamców (Republic of Liars) and Alfabet Szulerow (An A-Z of Conmen). In all of these books Łysiak attacks people he claims are the founders of the Third Polish Republic (see Round Table Agreement). Łysiak calls these people the pink saloon (różowy salon), with Adam Michnik regarded as the leader of these liberal intellectuals.
In 2006 Wojciech Czuchnowski published an article in the Gazeta Wyborcza entitled 'Waldemar Łysiak, Baron Münchhausen of the 4th RP'. Czuchnowski accused Łysiak of re-styling himself as an outspoken critic of the PRL, whereas at the time he was allegedly 'looked after' by the authorities, as his books enjoyed large publishing runs, and he was frequently interviewed by newspapers. Łysiak responded with an article in the Gazeta Polska entitled 'The Salon Retaliation, or 'hand, foot, brain on the wall'.