What do you think?
Rate this book
Lilije
9 pages, ebook
2 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Adam Mickiewicz
499 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)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
December 1, 2023
mickiewicz really slayed with this one
Read
February 8, 2023Mickiewicz, nienawidząc kobiet, niechcący tworzy girlbossy
November 26, 2022
3,5⭐️
Nigdy nie myślałam, że będzie mi się tak miło czytać jakieś dzieło Mickiewicza. Główna bohaterka slayed.
Nigdy nie myślałam, że będzie mi się tak miło czytać jakieś dzieło Mickiewicza. Główna bohaterka slayed.
June 23, 2024
"Rośnij kwiecie wysoko jak pan leży głęboko" Love it
January 15, 2025
FAV BALLADA zaraz obok Świtezianki
November 18, 2021
Ależ to wybitne!
October 12, 2022
1.9
niebanalne, twórcze, kreatywne, artystyczne, uduchowione, po prostu kosmos
niebanalne, twórcze, kreatywne, artystyczne, uduchowione, po prostu kosmos
March 20, 2023
śmiesznie bo zrozumiałam o czym jest
March 5, 2025
CZEMU JA TEGO WCZESNIEJ NIE PRZECZYTALAM
Read
March 5, 2023Główna bohaterka slay
Czytałam ironicznie do sprawdzianu i całkiem nice jak na Adamcia
Czytałam ironicznie do sprawdzianu i całkiem nice jak na Adamcia
February 12, 2023
nawet dobre to było. czytałam na głos i to brzmiało nieźle
October 28, 2025
[8/10] – (2025) – podobało mi się fr
November 19, 2023
nie myślałam, że kiedykolwiek powiem to o tekście Mickiewicza, ale slay
December 8, 2022
jeszcze bardziej mi się podoba niż za pierwszym razem
October 25, 2023
jak na mickiewicza to naprawde udane
July 4, 2024
"Zbrodnia to niesłychana
Pani zabija pana"
Top 1 z ballad Mickiewicza, Pani - slaaaay
Kocham
Pani zabija pana"
Top 1 z ballad Mickiewicza, Pani - slaaaay
Kocham
November 22, 2023
Jakie to było zajebiste
Główna bohaterka slayed
Normalnie jak nie Adaś
Główna bohaterka slayed
Normalnie jak nie Adaś
October 5, 2024
Adam raz w życiu ci coś wyszło
Mąż do wora a wór do doła
Mąż do wora a wór do doła
April 19, 2025
boze period
September 25, 2023
nie mysslalqm ze te ballady beda takie dobre
Read
April 24, 2022Trochę to chore, ale podoba mi się
July 10, 2023
"zbrodnia to nieslychana pani zabila pana" i juz jest slay
September 21, 2023
"Rośnij, kwiecie wysoko jak pan leży głęboko" Love it
January 27, 2022
4.5 podoba mi się
May 16, 2022
Mniej lubię ale też fajne
April 25, 2023
5/5⭐️
Zdecydowany faworyt z „Ballad i romansów” (i całej twórczości tego pana).
Zdecydowany faworyt z „Ballad i romansów” (i całej twórczości tego pana).
January 19, 2024
to byl peak mickiewicza
February 8, 2024
ulubione od adasia
April 29, 2024
i support women’s rights and WOMEN’S WRONGS!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews