Polish Literature

The first Polish literature was of a religious nature and was influenced by Western Roman Catholicism. Nearly all of this literature was in Latin, not Polish. Those who could write and read were usually members of the clergy.

The higher officials of the Church were often well educated members of the wealthy gentry class residing in the large cities. Most of the parish priests living in rural areas could neither read nor write, and in the early centuries of Catholicism, would often memorize the liturgy of the mass and other prayers.

Not until the sixteenth century did a country gentleman, Mikolaj Rej (1505-1569) begin to write in the Polish language. Named the "Father of the Polish Literature and Language," Rej wrote both poetry and prose which was satiric, earthy and humorous. He wrote in the vernacular for his contemporaries. Unfortunately little of his work is translated, or even translatable due to its very nature.

One of the most famous poles, an exponent of the Renaissance in Polish literature is Jan Kochanowski (1530-1584). His education at Padua (Italy) and Krakow, along with his travels in France and other countries exposed him to a wide variety of cultures during this exciting period. His works reveal his humanistic bent and his great knowledge of Latin and Greek literature. He mastered nearly every genre in literature and became known as the greatest poet of the Slavic world, and the "Father of Polish Literature."

Three poets are considered by most experts to be the most famous poles in the history of Polish literature: Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855), Juliusz Slowacki (1809-1849), and Zygmunt Krasinski (1812-1859). Adam Mickiewicz is the national poet of Poland and her chief Romantic writer. His major work Pan Tadeusz (available in two English translations) is Poland's national epic set in the period of the Napoleonic wars. It has no equal in Polish literary history.

But it was the publication of his Ballads in 1822 which is said to be the true beginning of Romanticism in Poland. Mickiewicz emigrated to France in 1830 and later became involved in the activities of the 1848 revolutions in Western Europe. He taught Slavic literature at the College of France in Paris, and his writing turned patriotic in nature. He continued his teaching until he became immersed in mysticism. After his retirement, he participated directly in military resistance against Poland's captors until his death in 1855.

Juliusz Slowacki was also a Romantic poet and he, too, wandered over Europe. Like Mickiewicz, he was a fiery patriot; only his death prevented him from participating in a revolt in Poznan. He wrote drama, poetry and tragedy with a flair for historical elements and mysticism. His epic poem Beniowski, has been compared to Byron's Don Juan. Though many parallels can be drawn between the lives and works of Slowacki and Byron, the former was clearly writing in a Polish style of his own creation and themes. Other works include his great King Spirit which he was finishing when he died.

It is interesting to note that Mickiewicz considered Slowacki a minor, not very distinguished rival in Polish literature and something of an upstart as well. Slowacki continually felt humiliated, and in his poetry may be found a few subtle unflattering references to Mickiewicz. Today the two great poets lie side by side in Wawel Cathedral in Cracow, together and at peace.

Zygmunt Krasinski is the third member of this trio of Poland's greatest writers. Also a Romanticist, he was at his best in the two works, Undivine Comedy and Irydion.

In the nineteenth century the most popular genre was that of the novel. During this time, despite the Partitions, the Polish novel flourished. Joseph I. Kraszewski (1812-1887) produced an incredible volume of work of uneven quality. His more than six hundred works included not only novels, but also poems, essays, plays, biography and history.

One particularly interesting work is his novel Hrabina Cosel (Countess Cosel), a historical work renowned for its detail and its powerful story of a noblewoman set against the background of seventeenth century court life. A few years ago, the Polish film industry made this novel into a remarkably authentic film. Another work, The Jew (translated into English in 1890), is a sensitive portrayal of the relationships between the Poles and the Jews in nineteenth century Poland.

Boleslaw Prus (1845-1912) wrote many short stories but is best known for his novel The Pharoah, set in ancient Egypt, and his fascinating novel, The Doll. The latter not only explores social attitudes and class morality in that era but is an intriguing character study of a man whose love for a woman "above his station" drives him to the depths of anguish. This book is available in English and has been made into a movie by a Polish film company. Polish films of this nature are often shown in cities with large Polish populations in America. Because of their historical nature and the excellence of production, they are never out of date.

Although there were several outstanding women writers in Polish literature, the most interesting is Eliza Orzeszkowa (1841-1910), whose work reflects concern for her homeland, modern vision, and patriotism. Her most famous novel, Marta, explores the woman of the nineteenth century. Marta, widowed and alone, must seek livelihood for herself and her daughter. Society set narrow parameters in which she could earn a respectable living; consequently, Marta is faced with a series of disappointments and tribulations. Translated into many languages, this novel was used as a battlecry for the equality of women.

Much of Orzeszkowa's work remains untranslated. Her short stories deal with a variety of themes, but those with a Jewish motif are remarkable for their sensitivity and indicate a brave undertaking on the part of the author. Orzeszkowa fought against ignorance and superstition, convinced that fact and compassion could dispel many social problems of her day.

The Polish writers best known to American readers are Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1916), Wladyslaw Stanislaw Reymont (1867-1925) and Joseph Conrad (Teodor Korzeniowski, 1857-1924). Sienkiewicz traveled widely, and his Letters From America reveal much about our own country. His Trilogy of historical novels, set in the seventeenth century, look to the past glory of Poland. English readers are most familiar with Quo Vadis, a novel which won the Nobel Prize in 1905.

HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ

One of the most famous poles and popular writer of narrative. Received the Nobel Prize in 1905. His most important works: Quo Vadis, Ogniem i mieczem (With Fire and Sword), Potop (The Deluge), Krzyzacy (The Knights of the Cross), Pan Wołodyjowski (Pan Michael), W pustyni i puszczy (In Desert and Wilderness). He toured the United States and was present at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876.

Reymont's The Peasants, also translated into English, won the Nobel Prize in 1924. No one has surpassed Reymont in his portrayal of the peasantry and the novel with its lifelike characters is extremely readable.

Joseph Conrad wrote his best work as an exile and in English, a foreign language to him. He fought for social justice, and he used psychological interpretations in character portrayal. Because Conrad had been a seafaring man for much of his life, he set his novels against exotic backgrounds and the sea. Critics often consider the novel Heart of Darkness his best literary creation, but Lord Jim (of which an excellent film was made) and The Nigger of the Narcissus are better known to the reading public.

Modern famous Poles of renown in Polish literature are numerous and include Julian Tuwin (1894-1953), whose poetry of the interwar period is outstanding; Witold Gombrowicz (1904-1969), whose novels were controversial; and Slawomir Mrozek (1930-    ), who is most famous for his play Tango produced throughout the world.