The Career of Nicodemus Dyzma

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The Career of Nicodemus Dyzma (Kariera Nikodema Dyzmy) - a 1932 Polish bestseller by Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz.

The Career of Nicodemus Dyzma was made into a Polish 1956 movie starring Adolf Dymsza and subsequently 1980 TV series featuring Roman Wilhelmi in the title role.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Nicodemus Dyzma was a small-town man who came to the Polish capital from the Eastern provinces (called "Kresy") in search of work. Walking the streets of Warsaw he found a lost invitation to a party reception. Hoping for a free meal, he decided to use it since he owned a tuxedo. At the reception he befriends a Member of Parliament and wins the hearts of guests with his attitude. He's introduced to a wealthy landowner by the name of Kunicki, a former con artist, who's so impressed by Dyzma that he offers him a job of a superintendent of his country estate. At the estate, Dyzma meets Kunicki's wife, Nina, who quickly falls in love with him. Soon Dyzma begins to control all matters of the estate and starts to climb the social and political ladder. He's offered a series of prestigious appointments; however, he's also forced to hide his past from the prying eyes of his adversaries and the general public.

Nicodemus Dyzma became a widely accepted Polish symbol of a dumb swindler with good connections and a lot of luck.