Ryszard Kapuściński and the Communists

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The only news event that Alfred A. Knopf probably expected to tie with the appearance of ‘Travels With Herodotus,’ the final book by the late Ryszard Kapuściński set to be published on June 11, was the author’s death in January at age 74.

But the International Herald Tribune along with several German publications report that secret police files have been released indicating that the famed Polish journalist, whose books include ‘The Soccer War’ and ‘The Shadow of the Sun,’ was an informer who wrote reports for Communist intelligence agencies from 1967 to 1972.

Long thought to be a Nobel Prize front-runner, Kapuściński, in his final book, reflects back on his many global assignments and how the ancient Greek historian taught him to appreciate and understand events. But instead of attention focusing solely on that book, a debate is developing in Poland between those condemning Kapuściński for not revealing his involvement and those attempting to exonerate him, several German papers report, ‘on the grounds that -- the informing -- didn’t harm anyone.’ The website Sign and Sight has posted details from the European press concerning Kapuściński’s code name as well as the names of other prominent intellectuals who, in the past, were outed for their Communist involvement.

Nick Owchar