In this book Czapski weaved together his autobiography, the witness of a stormy epoch, with the arts and literature. Tumult and Spectre is a book which the author composed with fragments from his journals, travel notes, essays written from the mid-1940's until the end of the 70's. The book was first printed by the Instytut Literacki  in Paris. This is the first official edition to appear in Poland.

 

 

A wide selection of literary essays printed during over forty years in the Parisian journal Kultura. In many ways it compliments the essays on painting published by Znak in the volume While Looking. This volume has a wide scope of interests, from Norwid to contemporary exiled writers. It is especially sensitive to ethical problems, and unwilling to separate them from artistic problems as it seeks the metaphysical inspiration of all creativity. Its passionately personal way of dealing with these problems makes it a most thrilling and enlightening read.