The fi rst Polish edition of "The Land of Ulro" appeared in France in Maisons Laffi tte in 1977, published by Instytut Literacki. The preface to this edition was written by Father Józef Sadzik, a philosopher specializing in Heidegger, and the director of the Pallotine Centre for Dialogue in Surcouf Street, Paris. Following his advice and encouragement, Miłosz, who had been connected to Father Sadzik through a long-standing friendship and mutual respect, began to translate the biblical texts which Sadzik had scrupulously published in Editions du Dialogue (in August 1980 the latter died suddenly of heart failure, holding photocopies of The Book of Job, never to witness the Solidarity victory in Gdańsk, nor his friend’s receipt of the Noble Prize).