Polish Studies of Kyiv: works of International scientific conference, Kyiv, 23-25 of May, 2018. / chief editor R. Radyshevskyi. – vol. XXXV. – Kyiv: Talkom, 2019. – P. 341-348.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/psk.2019.35.341-348

Sukhareva S.

JOZEF IGNACY KRASZEWSKI EMIGRATION CREATIVITY: TO THE ISSUE OF HISTORICISM IN LITERATURE

Abstract. The article deals with the stories of Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski emigration period in view of the historical nature. The various Polish epochs described in the writer’s stories are given in chronological order. The attention is paid to the individual style and changes of the author’s philosophical positions. A special place is devoted to Kraszewski Sarmatian visions and the influence of Volyn life and creativity period on emigration literature. The ideal of the Polish knight-Sarmatian is characterized.

Both the writer emigration and Dresden creativity period lasted for 20 years and was especially fruitful in historical subjects, since it was then that the idea to create a whole chronological series of historical stories appeared. Thanks to the creation of this cycle J. I. Krashewski became famous not only for his peasant tales, but also as a novelist of historical direction.

Josef Kraszewski did not often go to Karlovy Vary for treatment as well as to Greater Poland and Galicia from Dresden. In 1883 while Kraszewski was going back from treatment in France he was arrested and charged with “state betrayal” in Berlin. After a long trial to which Bismarck himself was involved the writer was sentenced to three and a half years in Magdeburg fortress. Kraszewski did not stop his literary activities in the prison. In Magdeburg, he created such works as “Adventures”, “Over the Abyss”, “The King in Nesvizh”, “Yustka”, “God’s Wrath”, etc. On November 7, 1885 he was fired thanks to the help of friends but the writer’s health was finally blown up. The artist died in Geneva on March 19, 1887. Historical themes became the leitmotif of his emigration creativity.

Those researchers who are looking for historical accuracy won’t find it in Kraszewski’s prose since the author puts a special emphasis on the purpose of his writings such as the patriotic spirit awakening, the nation revival, the restoration and development of the statehood in Poland. Taking into account the goals it can be argued that despite the incredible writer awareness of the history, his artistic talent outweighed the historical fact. It was a conscious choice of the artist who chose the literature as an instrument of his life goal embodiment among the history and literature.

Key words: Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski, historical grounds, Sarmatian vision, historical story, emigration literature.

Information about author: Sukhareva Svitlana, Doctor of Philology, Associate Professor, Professor of Foreign Languages and Translation Department, Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European University.