Inside the head of Bruno Schulz

Ever since he could remember Bruno - for that was the name of the man with the face like a paper kite - had awoken every morning with Fear in his heart. Fear and he had breakfast together in Lisowski's tea-room.

Fear accompanied him to the High School and looked over his shoulder as the boys put their unsuccessful sketches of animals down in front of him, as well as plaster models, covered with black fingerprints, of their sweet little heads. Fear was there when he talked to other teachers during the break periods... and Fear did not leave him even when Helena Jakubowicz, the young sports and philosophy teacher, asked him how his new novel was getting on.

Everyone in Poland who understood the first thing about literature, she said, was waiting for it with increasing impatience and interest. Only when Helena Jakubowicz - small, athletic and with a hairy face like a clever female bonobo chimpanzee - put her hand on his arm and pressed it did Fear go away. But as soon as Helena let go, Fear was back....


(Translated from Germanby Anthea Bell)