Pragnienie wpływu. Listy Stefana Themersona i Bertranda Russella

The article examines letters written by Stefan Themerson and exchanged with his years-long friend Bertrand Russell. By bringing the reader closer to political and social questions discussed by the correspondents the author of the article takes note of the character of “the desire for influence”, which may be mentioned in the case of this particular relation. The category applied by H. Sroka as a reversal of the Harold Bloom conception simultaneously introduces a new comprehension of intellectual and aesthetic independence thematized by the writer. An analysis of source material is preceded also by information about the range of the archive within which particular letters and other artefacts about Russell – collected by the avant-garde artist / author (i.a. press cuttings, invitations to parties/receptions, photographs, etc.) – function.