Objects

Diary of the Saddest Period of my Youth is Felicja Blumental’s diary kept in the years 1931–1932, dedicated to her fiancé Marek (Markus) Mizne: “To Marek for a pleasant passage from his Felunia.” Felicja started her diary on 5 December 1931, the day Marek left for Paris. Although Marek appears regularly on the pages of the diary, what we find equally interesting are the details of her everyday life which the young girl spent between classes at the Conservatory, private lessons given in order to support the home budget (their loss was very painful), concerts at the Philharmonic, family visits, and meetings with friends, especially Fryda, as well as (innocent) flirting. Felicja devoted much attention to her birthday, celebrated on 28 December. On the following day, she wrote: “So, I’m 23 already. I can hardly believe myself I’m so old.” | Renata Piątkowska