Zły (novel)

Zły (Polish for "The Evil One"; published in English as Zly and The Man with the White Eyes) is a 1955 Polish novel by Leopold Tyrmand.[1][2] Set in post-war Warsaw, it follows a mysterious vigilante who wages a private campaign against the city's criminal underworld.[1] The novel combines elements of crime fiction and romance,[3] became an immediate bestseller, and remains one of Tyrmand's best-known novels.[3][4]

Reception and legacy

Critics have frequently emphasized the centrality of Warsaw to the book, with the city often treated as its true protagonist.[5]

English translation

An English translation by David Welsh was published in London by Michael Joseph in 1958 under the title Zly.[6] An abridged American edition appeared in New York from Alfred A. Knopf in 1959 under the title The Man with the White Eyes.[7]

Synopsis

Set in 1950s Warsaw, the novel centres on a mysterious avenger known for his white eyes and exceptional fighting skills. As he attacks hooligans, racketeers and gangsters who prey on ordinary residents, police officers, journalists, criminals and bystanders all try to uncover his identity. The pursuit unfolds across Warsaw's streets, cafés, markets and ruins.[8]



References

  1. ^ a b "The Man With White Eyes – Leopold Tyrmand". Culture.pl. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  2. ^ Bejrowski, Piotr. "Leopold Tyrmand: an original writer and master of self-aggrandizement". Polish History. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Leopold Tyrmand - Biography". Culture.pl. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  4. ^ "Legendary Polish writer remembered". Polskie Radio. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  5. ^ Mrowcewicz, Krzysztof (2020). "How a novel "The Man with White Eyes (The Bad)" became the "Iliad"". Nauka (4): 89–105. doi:10.24425/nauka.2020.135678.
  6. ^ "Zly / Leopold Tyrmand ; translated from the Polish and edited by D. J. Welsh". The National Library of Israel. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  7. ^ "The man with the white eyes". WorldCat. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  8. ^ Tyrmand, Leopold (2025). Zły (in Polish). MG. ISBN 978-83-8241-327-4.
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