Career
Alfred Szklarski debuted during the German occupation of Poland with his novels which were aimed at adults. These included: Żelazny pazur (Iron claw, 1942), Krwawe diamenty (Bloody diamonds, 1943) and Tajemnica grobowca (The secret of the tomb, 1944). In the post-war period he started to sign his writings with pseudonyms: Alfred Bronowski and Fred Garland. However, his publishing house persuaded him to write youth novels signed with his real name. That was how his best known books came into existence, namely the series of novels about Tomek Wilmowski, a young boy who travels the world with his friends (Polish emigrants) and experiences great adventures. Tomek, who is the main character of the books, learns the value of friendship, study, responsibility, etc. The series of 9 books is full of geographical, historical, cultural and biological knowledge as well as humour and entertainment which is aimed at adolescents and young adults.
Szklarski was co-author (with his own wife Krystyna Szklarska) of a trilogy about the Sioux titled Złoto Gór Czarnych (The Gold of the Black Hills). The books described hunting bisons, the beliefs, intertribal conflicts and the later native Americans' first contact with the white people as well as their fights. It is claimed that Szklarski's books about history and sufferings of the indigenous peoples of America were inspired by his own war experience as well as Polish people's tragic history and invaders' cruelty. He is considered to have believed that the history of native Americans is similar to a great extent to the history of Poland. The only difference was that Poles have managed to finally endure invasions, long years of occupation, extermination, Germanisation and Russification, whereas tribes of America eventually lost their free homeland which was taken over by the Whites. He strongly condemned interracial violence, and supported the idea of reconciliation between nations.
The popularity of his books brought him several awards, including Orle Pióro (1968) and Order of the Smile in 1971. Moreover, he was twice given an award by the Prime Minister (1973, 1987) for his literary works for the young readers. He was a member of the Association of Polish Authors.
His books have been translated into Russian and Bulgarian, unfortunately they haven not been translated into English. They have also been published in the braille system. They have been brought out in the number of 11 million.
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