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Poezja Polska #1
Adam Mickiewicz
Kolekcja POEZJA POLSKA jest zbiorem klasycznych poezji wybitnych polskich poetów, mi. in. Mickiewicza, Norwida czy Tuwima… Prezentujemy wyjątkowe poezje z panteonu najznamienitszych polskich poetów w unikalnym wydaniu. Każdy kolejny tom z kolekcji to wyjątkowe wydanie w eleganckiej twardej oprawie, w przepięknej złoconej edycji.
194 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2024
9 people want to read
About the author
Adam Mickiewicz
498 books277 followersTo a Pole, the name Adam Mickiewicz is emblematic of Polishness and greatness. What Homer is to the Greeks, or Shakespeare to the English, Mickiewicz is to the Poles. He is a cultural icon, a name inextricably connected with Polish literature and history, and one mentioned with pride. Mickiewicz stands out in the consciousness of Poles both as a man of letters and a political leader.
Despite his unquestionable status and fame, however, much of Mickiewicz's biography is shrouded in mystery. Even the generally accepted date of his birth, December 24. 1798, is uncertain, since it hasn't been determined whether it refers to the Gregorian or the Julian calendar. Nor has it been established conclusively whether Mickiewicz was born in Nowogrodek or at Zaosie, a mile or so apart. Many biographical facts, particularly those pertaining to his relationships with women, were deliberately obscured to preserve a flawless public image of the poet. Likewise, his interest in mysticism and involvement in mystical cults tended to be minimized, especially during the years of Communist rule in Poland when the official line was to shun spirituality of any kind, not to expose the poet to ridicule.
Mickiewicz's son. Władysław, can be held partially responsible for this state of affairs, but he is not the only one. Having gained control of his father's papers after the poet's death, Władysław Mickiewicz destroyed various documents which might have potentially tarnished his father's public image. Likewise, many critics and scholars tended to overlook significant facts in the poet's biography, as well as significant themes and issues in his writing, to sustain the idealized view of Mickiewicz as a Polish national bard. This tendency to carefully "whitewash" Mickiewicz is hardly surprising. Born three years after the final partition of Poland, Mickiewicz became a spiritual leader of the Polish nation. An ardent patriot, he animated the Polish national spirit through his poetic, dramatic and political writings, providing hope and spiritual sustenance to Poles under the Russian, Prussian and Austrian rule, as well as to the many exiles, particularly the emigré circles in Paris, where he settled in 1832. Given the history of Poland and the long streak of political oppression and subjugation, the need for heroes and the idealization of Mickiewicz as a leader are perfectly understandable.
Yet already in the 1930s, there were critical voices against the bowdlerization of Mickiewicz's work (since some editions of his works eliminated the more racy passages) and objections were raised against the cover-up in renditions of his biography. The prominent critic, Tadeusz Boy-Źieleński, for instance, in his work "Brązownicy" objected to the distortions of facts and the "sins of omission" in critical writings on Mickiewicz. In recent years, a much more vast and thorough re-examination of Mickiewicz' life and oeuvre has occurred. This is partially due to the overall re-examination of Polish history and Polish literary tradition after the collapse of Communism and, generally. a much greater openness in discussions of various issues previously relegated to the sphere of national taboos. Thus, much has been written lately about the white spots in Mickiewicz's biography. particularly about his mystical leanings and the Jewish origin of his mother. The evidence of Mickiewicz's fascination with mysticism is overwhelming, and there is some basis for the allegation of his mother's Jewishness.
(quoted from Regina Grol's piece posted on InfoPolan, University of Buffalo's website; for continuation see link below)
Despite his unquestionable status and fame, however, much of Mickiewicz's biography is shrouded in mystery. Even the generally accepted date of his birth, December 24. 1798, is uncertain, since it hasn't been determined whether it refers to the Gregorian or the Julian calendar. Nor has it been established conclusively whether Mickiewicz was born in Nowogrodek or at Zaosie, a mile or so apart. Many biographical facts, particularly those pertaining to his relationships with women, were deliberately obscured to preserve a flawless public image of the poet. Likewise, his interest in mysticism and involvement in mystical cults tended to be minimized, especially during the years of Communist rule in Poland when the official line was to shun spirituality of any kind, not to expose the poet to ridicule.
Mickiewicz's son. Władysław, can be held partially responsible for this state of affairs, but he is not the only one. Having gained control of his father's papers after the poet's death, Władysław Mickiewicz destroyed various documents which might have potentially tarnished his father's public image. Likewise, many critics and scholars tended to overlook significant facts in the poet's biography, as well as significant themes and issues in his writing, to sustain the idealized view of Mickiewicz as a Polish national bard. This tendency to carefully "whitewash" Mickiewicz is hardly surprising. Born three years after the final partition of Poland, Mickiewicz became a spiritual leader of the Polish nation. An ardent patriot, he animated the Polish national spirit through his poetic, dramatic and political writings, providing hope and spiritual sustenance to Poles under the Russian, Prussian and Austrian rule, as well as to the many exiles, particularly the emigré circles in Paris, where he settled in 1832. Given the history of Poland and the long streak of political oppression and subjugation, the need for heroes and the idealization of Mickiewicz as a leader are perfectly understandable.
Yet already in the 1930s, there were critical voices against the bowdlerization of Mickiewicz's work (since some editions of his works eliminated the more racy passages) and objections were raised against the cover-up in renditions of his biography. The prominent critic, Tadeusz Boy-Źieleński, for instance, in his work "Brązownicy" objected to the distortions of facts and the "sins of omission" in critical writings on Mickiewicz. In recent years, a much more vast and thorough re-examination of Mickiewicz' life and oeuvre has occurred. This is partially due to the overall re-examination of Polish history and Polish literary tradition after the collapse of Communism and, generally. a much greater openness in discussions of various issues previously relegated to the sphere of national taboos. Thus, much has been written lately about the white spots in Mickiewicz's biography. particularly about his mystical leanings and the Jewish origin of his mother. The evidence of Mickiewicz's fascination with mysticism is overwhelming, and there is some basis for the allegation of his mother's Jewishness.
(quoted from Regina Grol's piece posted on InfoPolan, University of Buffalo's website; for continuation see link below)
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 13, 2025
My dad bought this book for me last year and it took me a long time for me to finally be ready to read my first poetry book. Some of the poems from this book I read more than 20 years ago in school, it was so nice to come back to Adam Mickiewicz poems as I understand and enjoy them more now. You can see difference in writing and increase in maturity through the years of Mickiewicz poems. My favourite poem was the Lilies. I could definitely read more of Mickiewicz poetry and definitely recommend this book as a great Polish classic book from the 1600s
July 21, 2025
„Ale gdy Ciebie ujrzę, nie pojmuję, czemu
Znowu jestem spokojny, zimniejszy nad głazy,
Aby goreć na nowo - milczeć po dawnemu.”
Znowu jestem spokojny, zimniejszy nad głazy,
Aby goreć na nowo - milczeć po dawnemu.”
April 1, 2025
3.5/5
Skończyłam czytać swój pierwszy tomik poezji i muszę przyznać, że podobało mi się to 😃. Niestety nie wszystko byłam w stanie zrozumieć, ale niektóre teksty wyjątkowo mnie poruszyły (były albo uwrażliwiające albo spotkały się z moją niezgodą), więc z pewnością jest to urozmaicenie tego co zwykle czytam. W szczególności twórczość z okresu rosyjskiego i niektóre sonety krymskie przypadły mi do gustu. Wzbogacające doświadczenie.
Skończyłam czytać swój pierwszy tomik poezji i muszę przyznać, że podobało mi się to 😃. Niestety nie wszystko byłam w stanie zrozumieć, ale niektóre teksty wyjątkowo mnie poruszyły (były albo uwrażliwiające albo spotkały się z moją niezgodą), więc z pewnością jest to urozmaicenie tego co zwykle czytam. W szczególności twórczość z okresu rosyjskiego i niektóre sonety krymskie przypadły mi do gustu. Wzbogacające doświadczenie.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews