Bajki

by Adam Mickiewicz

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Polish Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

To 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)

Reviews

[maciollo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Na „Bajki” Mickiewicza trafiłem zupełnie przypadkiem: wszedlem na aplikację books i moim oczom ukazała się ta książka, a że była darmowa to też uznałem, że sprawdzę tę książkę. Była przeciętna, bajki te były pełne ludowości i nie były wybitne w czytaniu. Inne dzieła Mickiewicza podobały mi się bardziej, ale przynajmniej były darmowe :)

[nats · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ Pochłonęłam ten zbiór bajek Mickiewicza w 30 minut i niektóre mi przypadły do gustu, ale jednak ciężko mi się je czytało (polski ciężki język, nic się nie zmieniło od dzieciństwa).

[Pi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oczywiście BAJKI Adama Mickiewicza były mi znane i stanowiły istotną część mojego czytelniczego dzieciństwa. Mam to stare wydanie z wilkiem na żółtej okładce, ale pomyślałam, że to nowe także chcę. Uznałam, że jest to także świetny powód do odświeżenia sobie tych utworów.
BAJKI, to prawdziwe bajki - czyli utwory pisane wierszem, z jasnym morałem. Uwielbiam je! Cenię piękny język, dosłowność, przekorę i chyba przede wszystkim HUMOR. Mam wrażenie, że współcześnie humor bywa mylony z głupotą, a tutaj odnajdziemy jego korzenie, jego krystaliczne sedno.
Nie są to, wbrew pozorom, teksty łagodne - raczej mocne. Ich wydźwięk bywa w pierwszej chwili wręcz brutalny, ale tak właśnie ma być. Gdy przypomnicie sobie chociażby BAŚNIE BRACI GRIMM, to zarz zrozumiecie, o co mi chodzi.
"Już był w ogródku, już witał się z gąską..." - sięgając po tę książkę macie pewność powrotu do dzieciństwa, do tekstów, które znacie, jeśli nie w całości, to chociaż w części. Mickiewicz bazował na utworach np. Lafontaina, więc te opowieści w jakiejś formie z pewnością do was dotarły. Bardzo polecam, bo to wspaniała polszczyzna (choć czasem trudna, ale spokojnie, mamy na końcu objaśnienia). Takie pozycje warto czytać i sobie i dzieciom.
Książka została ślicznie wydana. Podoba mi się stonowany kolor okładki i ilustracje Pauliny Radomskiej-Skierkowskiej. Kończąc - warto mieć!

nie masz teraz prawdziwej przyjaźni na świecie
9/10
Wydawnictwo Zysk i Ska

[Głodna_książek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opowiadania przeciętne, ale od pierwszego przeczytania opowiadania "Przyjaciele" kocham twórczość tego autora.

[Szuwarek · Rating 3 out of 5]

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