Witold Marian Gombrowicz was a Polish writer and playwright, born on August 4, 1904, and passed away on July 24, 1969. Gombrowicz's works are renowned for their deep psychological analysis, paradoxical elements, absurdity, and an anti-nationalist flavor.

In 1937, he published his first novel, Ferdydurke, which showcased many of his recurring themes such as problems of immaturity and youth, identity creation through interactions with others, and a critical examination of class roles in Polish society and culture.

Despite gaining fame only in the last years of his life, Gombrowicz is now considered one of the foremost figures in Polish literature. His diaries, published in 1969, are widely regarded as his masterpiece, while his novel Cosmos is considered his most accomplished work. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times, from 1966 to 1969.