Authors

Discussion

Books for children that were intended for official publication in People’s Poland (1944–1990) had to undergo evaluation by the censors working in the Main and Voivodeship Offices of the Control of Press, Publications, and Public Performances, just as books for adults did.

Translations of books written by authors from behind the Iron Curtain were often subjected to special censorship, especially in the early years of the communist era, but also in later years. The methods of censoring Polish translations of American, English, or Canadian children’s books evolved in accordance with changes in the country’s policies. In my presentation, I will describe the main censorship strategies employed in relation to foreign literature for children. I will illustrate the similarities and differences in the evaluations made by censors over the years using selected books that were either published or withheld by the Ministry of Truth.