Comments on Jerzy Kosinski

"Comments on Jerzy Kosinski" is the title commonly given to reflections on the author provided for the book Jerzy Kosinski: The Face and Masks to accompany an exhibit at Muzeum Sztuki, also known as Museum of Art, Łódź, in 1992, the year after Kosinski's death. In addition to English, it is printed in French and Polish translation along side.

Summary

Jerzy Kosinski, 1973

Vonnegut received a painted bird from Kosinski, "about as big as a canary", for his 54th birthday, 14 years ago. It could in fact be featured in the exhibition. He returned it to his widow a week after he died and the two cried, she wishing Kosinski had known "how many people loved him". When Vonnegut was in Poland six years ago, he asked about Kosinski's reputation there and unfailingly heard: "Actor". Although they were referring to his role in the film Reds, Kosinski was always an actor, with both strangers and close friends, always performing in an attempt to coax astonishment from an audience and hold its attention.

About ten years ago, an article in The Village Voice asserted that Kosinski's works had been written by others that he had hired, charges since refuted by his editors. When he wondered why he'd been subjected to this, Vonnegut speculated it was because Kosinski was "Till Eulenspiegel", a legendary trickster and entertainer who secretly mocked those who believed him. Two months after his death, Vonnegut received a letter that believed that Kosinski faked his suicide and would soon reappear to "laugh at all of us". In reality, Kosinski had a life of many horrors and "could only down deep feel that life was a nasty business at best". While his body was in good shape, he could at least enjoy its physical activity, but when it began to deteriorate he killed himself. Calling "a very important American writer", Vonnegut still misses and loves him.