Henryk Sienkiewicz great writer world literature, but not only, he also worked for the benefit of the history of his country, the Republic of Poland. Creative, yes life path this person cannot be called easy, but he worthily went through all the difficulties and achieved great success in writing career. Henryk Sienkiewicz had to work long and hard to become on the same level with such great writers of world literature as Leo Tolstoy or Emile Zola. The labors and efforts of this man were not in vain, he became known not only in his own country, but also in other countries. Henryk Sienkiewicz managed to become the highest earning writer in Poland. The writer also received the Nobel Prize.
Biography of Henryk Sienkiewicz
The writer Henryk Sienkiewicz was born on May 5, 1846, in a village called Wola-Oksheysk, which was in Polish territory, which at that time was part of the Russian Empire. Henryk's parents were nobles, they owned several estates. By the time the guy began to study, his family was ruined. With all their large family they moved to the city of Warsaw. In Warsaw, Henryk studied at the gymnasium, and upon graduation, he entered the Warsaw Imperial University at the Faculty of History and Philology. When the guy was a student free time he enthusiastically engaged in journalism, and this gave its results, already in 1869 his first theater review was published. Henryk Sienkiewicz, who was not yet known at that time, began his career as a journalist in periodicals as early as 1870. A talented writer was noticed almost immediately, as he was distinguished by great diligence and completely devoted himself to his work, a little time passed and Henryk Sienkiewicz began to be considered the best journalist in Warsaw.
Life of Henryk Sienkiewicz
Henryk had a great fondness for various travels. For a long time he lived in Europe, often visited the United States of America, Henryk also visited Africa. Since he traveled a lot and often, got acquainted with different nations and cultures, the writer gave birth to ideas and plans for his new creations. Henryk Sienkiewicz, during his life, had three marriages and two children from his first wife. Such a rich life experience was also reflected in his work, especially in novels. But most of all, the impetus for the writer's work was his boundless love for the Motherland. He was deeply interested in the historical past of his people. This is what influenced the writing of historical novels, which undoubtedly glorified Henryk Sienkiewicz.
The most famous works of Henryk Sienkiewicz
From 1870 to 1880 Henryk wrote in the style of a novel. He created true masterpieces. The most popular of them are “Yanko the Musician”, “For Bread”, “Coal Sketches”, “Ganya”, as well as “Bartek the Winner” and “Lamplight at the Lighthouse” and many others. Also known is such a story as "In the desert and the forest." According to well-known Polish critics, even if Henryk Sienkiewicz had not released more than one of his novels, he would still become famous thanks to his deep and sensual works.
At the height of his creative inspiration, Henryk Sienkiewicz was writing historical novels. This allowed him to fully express his Political Views. In 1880, the writer created a trilogy, its plot was formed from the eventful history of Poland. In a novel called "Fire and Sword" or "Pan Volodyevsky", you can read about the resistance of the Polish people and the warring state. Readers took such historical novels with a bang. Henryk Sienkiewicz, better than anyone else, conveyed in his novels the events that took place at that time.
A novel called "Where are you coming from?" (Quo vadis?) the writer published in 1896. It was this novel that brought Henryk Sienkiewicz world fame, also thanks to him, he became the honorary owner of the Nobel Prize. The work turned out to be very bright and very emotional, it was based on the story ancient rome during the reign of Nero. Henryk Sienkiewicz fully managed to realistically describe the life and problems of the people of that time. Critics noted that the author accurately described the facts and details of the events taking place then. They also appreciated the excellent composition of the work and recognized it as the best literary depiction of Ancient Rome. In Poland, the USA and Italy, a film was made based on this novel.
In his novel "The Crusaders", the character of fictional characters is very plausibly expressed. In general, we can say that the book is about honor, dignity and justice. The story tells about a difficult, but at the same time interesting fate Polish knights. Readers of the novel are sad, rejoice and experience together with the heroes of the book. Along with historical novels, the author also works on modern novels. One of them, Without Dogma, published in 1890, touched its readers very much. The novel tells about the fate of a very talented guy who failed to find himself in life and tragically left it. From contemporary creativity You can also mention the novel called "The Polaniecki Family", it was written in 1894 and about the novel "Whirlpools" it was released in 1910.
The works of Henryk Sienkiewicz were also known in world literature
There were quite a lot of works by Henryk Sienkiewicz, and all of them were published in huge editions in Poland. His works have been translated into various foreign languages. His works were loved in Russia, in Russian libraries one could easily find his novels. Well-known Russian authors and Chekhov, Tolstoy and Gorky greatly respected Senkevich and his work. They considered his works to be the best in modern times.
It can be said for sure that the works of Henryk Sienkiewicz influenced the upbringing public consciousness contemporaries of that time. The well-written novels of Henryk Sienkiewicz evoke big interest readers in our time. And the writer himself showed himself a true patriot of his country and his people.
2016 marks the 170th anniversary of the birth and exactly 100th anniversary of the death of the great Polish writer Henryk (Heinrich) Sienkiewicz. In the era of the oppression of the Polish language and culture, with the help of his novels, he interested in the historical past of Poland not only compatriots, but also readers from all over the world. In addition, he owns one of best novels about Christians in the Roman Empire "What are you going to do?", thanks to which he was awarded the Nobel Prize.
Descendant of Tatars and Belarusians - Polish writer Henryk (Heinrich) Sienkiewicz
The world-famous, meanwhile, had completely non-Polish roots. His father's ancestors were Tatars who moved to Poland and converted to Catholicism. On the maternal side, the blood of Belarusian nobles flowed in the veins of the writer. However, by the time Henryk was born, his family remembered their origin only occasionally, considering themselves to be 100% Poles.
Writer's childhood
The future was born Nobel Laureate in May 1846 in Podlasie. In addition to him, the family had five more children. Even then, the Senkeviches began financial difficulties. Trying to settle them, they often moved from estate to estate. Thus, young Henryk spent his childhood among the picturesque expanses of rural nature. Over time, when all the property was sold, the impoverished gentry had no choice but to move to Warsaw.
Youth and the beginning of the creative path
After the family of the gentry went bankrupt, the grown-up Henryk Adam Alexander Pius Sienkiewicz had to rely only on his own strength. Despite financial problems, young Heinrich Senkevich received a decent education. He graduated from high school and, at the insistence of his parents, entered the Faculty of Medicine. However, the profession of a physician did not interest an ardent young man with a vivid imagination, so he transferred to the Faculty of History and Philology.
First attempt at writing own work undertaken by Henry in student years. The "first-born" of the writer was called "The Victim", but this work was not published and has not been preserved.
Since relatives practically did not help the writer, Genrikh Senkevich began to look for ways to earn money. Soon, under the pseudonym Litvos, essays, articles and essays by the young Sienkiewicz began to appear in many newspapers in Warsaw. His talent and pleasant manner of writing were quickly appreciated. Without finishing his studies at the university, Henryk Sienkiewicz devoted himself entirely to journalistic work.
In 1876, Heinrich was sent on a business trip to the United States. Henryk Sienkiewicz wrote many essays and stories based on his impressions of the trip. The most popular are "In the Land of Gold", "Comedy of Errors" and "Through the Steppes".
After the United States, the writer traveled around Europe for a long time, as a result of which he wrote the short story "Yanko the Musician".
Having become quite famous in the genre of small prose, Heinrich Sienkiewicz decided to try to take on larger works.
Historical trilogy of novels by Henryk Sienkiewicz about the adventures of Pan Michal Volodyevsky
In the eighties of the nineteenth century, Poland was part of the Russian Empire. However, the Poles dreamed of gaining freedom and periodically raised uprisings. After the suppression of another of them, tough measures were introduced in Poland: in educational institutions it was forbidden to teach in Polish, instead Russian had to be used. In addition, it was fashionable in Polish literature at that time to write about contemporary events. So Heinrich Senkevich acted very risky when he took up writing a historical novel.
"Fire and Sword" is the first novel of the writer. It was published in 1884 in the magazine Friend of the People. The success was stunning. Readers liked it so much that soon the novel was published as a separate book.
The work told about the uprising of Ukrainian Cossacks led by the main characters were the Polish gentry Jan Skshetusky, Michal Volodyevsky, Jan Zagloba and Longin Podbipyatka. Many real historical characters also appeared in the novel: Khmelnitsky, Jeremiah Vishnevetsky, Ivan Bohun and Tugai Bey.
Despite the descriptions historical battles and the adventures of the gentry, in the center of the novel was love triangle between Bohun, Skshetusky and the beautiful Princess Elena Kurtsevich.
After the tremendous success of the book "Fire and Sword" Henryk Sienkiewicz took up the continuation. The novel "The Flood" describes the period of the war between the Poles and the Swedes. There were also characters from the first book, beloved by readers, in the new work - Michal Volodyevsky and his eternal companion Pan Zagloba. However, now the main characters are the cornet Andrzej Kmitsic and his beloved panna Olga Billevich. When writing this novel, Genrikh Sienkiewicz took into account some of the surprises associated with the perception of readers of his first novel. The fact is that the refined Skshetusky did not really please the readers.
The main antagonist of the book turned out to be a brighter and more beloved character by readers: he was brave, noble and hot. Realizing that people like such heroes, Sienkiewicz made Kmits look like Bohun, while being a patriot of his country. And I didn't guess. The popularity of Sienkiewicz's second novel surpassed that of the first.
In his third novel, the writer finally decided to make Volodyevsky the main character, after whom he named his work. It described the war of the Commonwealth with the Turks, the love and heroic death of Pan Michal.
Henryk (Genikh) Sienkiewicz: “Where are you going?” (Qua vadis? / “Where are you going?”)
After the success of his trilogy, Sienkiewicz wrote several more historical novels, but they were no longer as popular as his first books. So he decided to write a novel about the Roman Empire in Nero's time. At the same time, Christians became the main actors, who defended their faith even in the face of death. was called new novel translated from Polish "Where are you going?".
Heinrich Senkevich took as the basis of the plot ancient legend about the sojourn of the Apostle Peter in Rome. About how, fleeing persecution, the apostle decided to leave the city, but he saw Christ going to the city, and, repenting of his cowardice, returned to Rome to accept martyrdom.
In addition to the courage of Christians and the stupidity, cruelty and mediocrity of Nero, Senkevich showed in his novel a wonderful love story of a Christian girl Lygia and a courageous Roman patrician Mark Vinicius. As in his past works, Heinrich Sienkiewicz used a win-win formula: a noble, handsome young hero changes throughout the book into better side and gives up his delusions out of love.
This novel glorified the writer far beyond the borders of his homeland and was especially noted by the Pope, thanks to which the writer was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1905.
Historical novel "The Crusaders"
After the triumph of the novel "Where are you coming?" returned to his favorite topic - the history of Poland - writer Henryk Sienkiewicz. The Crusaders was the title of his next novel. In it he described a period of history home country when the Poles fought against Germanization and the power of the Order of the Teutonic Knights.
Against the backdrop of a large-scale struggle against foreign occupation, the author spoke about the love of the young knight Zbyzhek from Bogdanets and Danusya, the daughter of Yurand from Spychov.
It is noteworthy that in this novel the writer depicted an uncharacteristic for the literature of that time female image Jagenki from Zgorzelice. This girl was independent, brave and determined - no wonder main character loved her.
The last years of the writer
The novel "The Crusaders" was the last truly famous work writer. And although in subsequent years Henryk Sienkiewicz published the novel "Whirlpools", the book did not have much success with readers.
With Heinrich Senkevich he moved to Switzerland. However, here he did not sit idly by, but opened a committee to help the Poles who became victims of the war. Here in Switzerland, he intended to write the novel Legions. However, he died before he could complete it.
The great writer was buried in the city, but later the ashes of the deceased were reburied at home - in Warsaw.
After the death of Henryk (Genikh) Sienkiewicz, several monuments and busts were erected to him around the world.
Senkevich's personal life
Despite active writing activity, Heinrich Senkevich found time for his personal life - he was married three times.
The first wife was Maria Shetkevich. She bore the writer two children, but soon died of tuberculosis. In memory of her, the writer organized a fund to help cultural figures with tuberculosis.
The grief from the loss of his beloved wife, with whom they lived together for only four years, soon passed, and Henryk Adam Alexander married again. Maria Volodkovich from Odessa became his chosen one. This union was not long, the wife herself filed for divorce.
The last time the writer decided to marry Maria Babskaya was in 1904.
Screen versions of the works of Henryk Sienkiewicz
Heinrich Sienkiewicz had a huge impact on the world film culture. The books of this author almost from the moment of publication asked for screens. Even during the life of the writer, the first films based on his books were shot. True, these were silent black-and-white films - two adaptations of "Where are you coming?", "The Flood" and "Sketches in charcoal." Interestingly, of the four paintings, only one was Polish.
In total, 23 films were shot based on the works of the writer. Most often filmed Qua vadis? - seven times. And it was only in 2001 that the Poles did it, while the Italians made films based on the book written by Henryk Sienkiewicz three times in a hundred years. "Where are you coming?" became the basis for two American films and one French.
Still popular with filmmakers are books from the famous historical trilogy of Sienkiewicz. In 1916, a film based on the novel "The Flood" was shot in the Russian Empire, and in Italy based on the book "Fire and Sword" in the sixties.
However greatest success in this field, the Polish director Jerzy Hoffman achieved, who managed to film the entire trilogy in thirty years. An interesting fact is that in his films the director achieved historical accuracy in everything, so that even the buttons of the heroes corresponded to the era shown in the film.
Today, like a hundred years ago, the most revered and famous Polish writer is Henryk (Heinrich) Sienkiewicz. The biography of this man is truly amazing and worthy of competing with the plot of his works. Like his heroes, Senkevich tried all his life to remain worthy person and helped others who needed it. I would like to believe that many modern cultural figures around the world will take an example from him.
IN early stories and stories there is an interest in three themes: the fading patriarchal life(“The Old Servant”, 1875; “Ganya”, 1876), the fate of the peasantry (“Coal Sketches”, 1877, “Janko the Musician”, 1879, etc.; for example, in the story “Za chelebem” (“For Bread”), 1880, describes a journey full of adversity peasant family in America).
The early works of the writer characterize him as a positivist, but, unlike other Polish positivists, he was also a conservative.
His "Latarnik" ("Lamplight at the lighthouse", 1881) is considered [ by whom?] one of the best stories in Polish literature [ ] . In the 1882 stories "Bartek Zwycięzca" ("Bartek the Conqueror", 1882) and "Sachem" ("Sachem", 1889), a parallel is drawn between tragic destinies the main characters and the life of the Poles under the yoke of occupation.
Author of the historical trilogy "Fire and Sword" (1883-1884), "Flood" (1884-1886), "Pan Volodyevsky" (1887-1888). All these novels were greeted with enthusiasm by readers and today are considered classics of Polish literature. The first novel depicts the struggle of the gentry of the Commonwealth with the Cossacks of Khmelnytsky. In the second part of the trilogy, the picture of the liberation war of the Poles with the Swedish intervention -1656 is recreated. In the third novel, poeticized feats of arms Polish knights during the Turkish invasion (-).
IN psychological novel"Without dogma" (1889-1890) depicts the type of decadent aristocrat. In it, Sienkiewicz experiments with introspection, choosing the form of a diary for the novel, while the novel itself also has naturalistic features.
In the novel The Polanietsky Family (1893-1894) contrasts with the idealization of a businessman from the nobility satirical image secular society.
The novel "Omut" (1909-1910) tells about the events of the Russian revolution of 1905-1907.
In 1910-1911 he wrote an adventure story for children "In the Wilds of Africa". The novel about the participation of the Poles in the Napoleonic wars "Legions" (1913-1914) remained unfinished.
Henryk Sienkiewicz ( full name- Henryk Adam Alexander Piy Sienkiewicz) was born in Podlasie, on the estate of Wola-Oksheyska near Lukov, on May 5, 1846. The Polish writer, Nobel Prize winner was a descendant of an ancient gentry, a poor family who revered military traditions.
In 1863, the parents moved to Warsaw, and Henryk became a student of the local gymnasium, after which in 1867 he entered the Main School (in 1869 it was transformed into the Imperial University). His mother wanted him to become a doctor, but a year later, Henryk moved from the more “promising” medical faculty to the historical and philological one, because. had a penchant for literature. The student life was not easy at times in the biography of Senkevich: he had to earn extra money as a tutor, tutor, because. financial situation left much to be desired. The beginning of his literary-critical activity belongs to the same period.
Henryk did not pass the final exam in Greek and stopped studying at the university in 1871. The source of income for him was cooperation with the local newspaper. The debut in print dates back to 1869, when his work was first published by the Weekly Review magazine. In 1872, his first story “In Vain” was published, which tells about the failed Polish uprising of 1863.
Since 1873, Henryk Sienkiewicz has been constantly working in the Polskaya Gazeta as a feuilletonist, and from the next year he becomes an employee of the Niva weekly, heading the literary department. Written in the early 70s. stories, as well as the story "Ganya" published in 1876, testify that their author has a clear sympathy for the bygone era of noble knights and beautiful ladies.
During 1876-1879. Henryk Sienkiewicz traveled around European countries and USA. During his travels, he met ordinary people, and outlined his impressions in the essays and stories of the series "Letters from the Road", published in 1876-1878. In 1881 Senkevich got married, and in 1885 his wife Maria Shetkevich died of tuberculosis, leaving two children orphans. With the money of an unknown philanthropist, G. Senkevich organized a fund named after his wife, which paid scholarships to artists suffering from the same disease. After that, there were two more marriages in his life.
Returning to Europe, Senkevich lived for some time in the French capital, in 1879 he visited Lvov, Venice, Rome, and since that time his biography has been associated with numerous travels and a change of residence. So, he managed to visit England, Austria, Lithuania, Italy, Switzerland, France, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Zanzibar, Egypt and other countries. In 1802 Senkevich became the head of the conservative newspaper Slovo. During this period of his work, a great love for the motherland, pride in it, historical optimism can be traced, which can be seen in the novels "Fire and Sword" (1883-1884), "The Flood" (1884-1886), "Pan Volodyevsky" (1887- 1888).
His talent as an author of historical novels was most clearly revealed in the epic "Kamo Coming" (1894-1896), which tells about the confrontation between the first Christians and Emperor Nero. In 1905, for her, Senkevich was awarded Nobel Prize on literature. The last of major works became a novel that he wrote during 1897-1900. - Crusaders. In 1900, in honor of the 25th anniversary creative activity Sienkiewicz became the owner of the Oblenogorek estate, which was presented to him on behalf of the public, located in the Kielce region. Later, a museum will be created here.
When did the first World War, Henryk Sienkiewicz left for Switzerland. He was the head of the committee helping the victims of the war in Poland. In this country, in the city of Vevey, he was overtaken by death. It happened on November 15, 1916; the ashes were buried in one of the city's Catholic churches, and in 1924 they were reburied in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Warsaw.
Henryk Sienkiewicz(full name - Henryk Adam Alexander Piy Sienkiewicz) was born in Podlasie, on the estate of Wola-Oksheyska near Lukovo, on May 5, 1846. The Polish writer, Nobel Prize winner was a descendant of an ancient gentry, a poor family who revered military traditions.
In 1863, the parents moved to Warsaw, and Henryk became a student of the local gymnasium, after which in 1867 he entered the Main School (in 1869 it was transformed into the Imperial University). His mother wanted him to become a doctor, but a year later, Henryk moved from the more “promising” medical faculty to the historical and philological one, because. had a penchant for literature. The student life was not easy at times in the biography of Senkevich: he had to earn extra money as a tutor, tutor, because. financial situation left much to be desired. The beginning of his literary-critical activity belongs to the same period.
Henryk did not pass the final exam in Greek and stopped studying at the university in 1871. The source of income for him was cooperation with the local newspaper. The debut in print dates back to 1869, when his work was first published by the Weekly Review magazine. In 1872, his first story “In Vain” was published, which tells about the failed Polish uprising of 1863.
Since 1873, Henryk Sienkiewicz has been constantly working in the Polskaya Gazeta as a feuilletonist, and from the next year he becomes an employee of the Niva weekly, heading the literary department. Written in the early 70s. stories, as well as the story "Ganya" published in 1876, testify that their author has a clear sympathy for the bygone era of noble knights and beautiful ladies.
During 1876-1879. Henryk Sienkiewicz traveled to European countries and the USA. During his travels, he met ordinary people, and outlined his impressions in the essays and stories of the series "Letters from the Road", published in 1876-1878. In 1881 Senkevich got married, and in 1885 his wife Maria Shetkevich died of tuberculosis, leaving two children orphans. With the money of an unknown philanthropist, G. Senkevich organized a fund named after his wife, which paid scholarships to artists suffering from the same disease. After that, there were two more marriages in his life.
Returning to Europe, Senkevich lived for some time in the French capital, in 1879 he visited Lvov, Venice, Rome, and since that time his biography has been associated with numerous travels and a change of residence. So, he managed to visit England, Austria, Lithuania, Italy, Switzerland, France, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Zanzibar, Egypt and other countries. In 1802 Senkevich became the head of the conservative newspaper Slovo. During this period of his work, a great love for the motherland, pride in it, historical optimism can be traced, which can be seen in the novels "Fire and Sword" (1883-1884), "The Flood" (1884-1886), "Pan Volodyevsky" (1887- 1888).
His talent as an author of historical novels was most clearly revealed in the epic "Kamo Coming" (1894-1896), which tells about the confrontation between the first Christians and Emperor Nero. In 1905, Sienkiewicz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for it. The last of the major works was a novel, which he wrote during the years 1897-1900. - Crusaders. In 1900, in honor of the 25th anniversary of his creative activity, Sienkiewicz became the owner of the Oblenogorek estate, which was presented to him on behalf of the public, located in the Kielce region. Later, a museum will be created here.
When the First World War began, Henryk Sienkiewicz left for Switzerland. He was the head of the committee helping the victims of the war in Poland. In this country, in the city of Vevey, he was overtaken by death. It happened in 1916; the ashes were buried in one of the city's Catholic churches, and in 1924 they were reburied in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Warsaw.
Biography from Wikipedia
Henryk Senkevich(Polish Henryk Sienkiewicz, full name Henrik Adam Alexander Pius Sienkiewicz, Polish Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz, also Henry(Henrik) Iosifovich Senkevich(May 5, 1846, Wola-Oksheyska (Russian) Polish in Podlasie, Kingdom of Poland, Russian empire- November 15, 1916, Vevey, Switzerland) - Polish writer, known as the author of historical novels, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905.
He was a corresponding member (since December 1896) and an honorary academician (since November 1914) of the Imperial St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences in the department of the Russian language and literature.
He came from an impoverished gentry. The writer's father came from Tatars who settled in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the reign of Vitovt, the so-called. "lipkov". Only in the 18th century did they convert from Islam to Catholicism. Mother was from a Belarusian gentry family. He graduated from the gymnasium in Warsaw and in 1866-1870 he studied at the medical and historical-philological faculties in main school(since 1869 - Warsaw University). He made his debut in print as a student in the journal "Weekly Review" ("Przegląd Tygodniowy", 1869). Since 1873, he was a permanent columnist for the Polish Newspaper (Gazeta Polska). Since 1874, he was in charge of the literary department of the weekly "Niva" ("Niwa"), since 1882 - editor of the conservative newspaper "Slovo" ("Słowo").
In 1881 he married Maria Shetkevich, who died of tuberculosis in 1885 (two children left). In 1888, an anonymous admirer provided him with 15 thousand rubles, for which Senkevich created a fund named after his late wife, which paid scholarships to cultural figures with tuberculosis (in particular, Maria Konopnitskaya, Stanislav Wyspyansky, Kazimierz Tetmayer used the fund's scholarships). The second marriage with Maria Volodkovich from Odessa (1893) ended in divorce at the initiative of his wife (1895). In 1904 he married Maria Babskaya.
Having visited the USA (1876-1879), he published Letters from a Travel (1876-1878). Upon returning to Europe, he lived for some time in Paris, in 1879 he was in Lvov, then he visited Venice and Rome. Since then, he traveled a lot, changing his place of residence many times (Austria, England, Italy, Lithuania, France, Switzerland, in 1886 - Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, in 1891 - Egypt and Zanzibar, as well as in other countries). In 1900, in connection with the 25th anniversary literary activity, Senkevich was presented with the Oblengorek estate ( pl: Oblęgorek) in the commune of Strawczyn in Kielce powiat, purchased with funds raised by the public (now the museum of the writer).
With the outbreak of World War I, he moved to Switzerland. He headed the Committee for Assistance to the Victims of the War in Poland. After his death in Vevey (Switzerland), the ashes were initially buried in a local Catholic church, in 1924 they were transferred to Warsaw and buried in a crypt cathedral St. John the Baptist.
Creation
In early novels and short stories, there is an interest in three topics: the fading of patriarchal life (“The Old Servant”, 1875; “Ganya”, 1876), the fate of the peasantry (“Coal Sketches”, 1877, “Yanko the Musician”, 1879, etc .; for example, the short story "Za chelebem" ("For Bread"), 1880, describes the arduous journey of a peasant family to America).
The early works of the writer characterize him as a positivist, but, unlike other Polish positivists, he was also a conservative.
His Latarnik (Lamplight at the Lighthouse, 1881) is considered one of the finest short stories in Polish literature. In the stories of 1882 "Bartek Zwycięzca" ("Bartek the Victor", 1882) and "Sachem" ("Sachem", 1889), a parallel is drawn between the tragic fates of the main characters and the life of the Poles under the yoke of occupation.
Author of the historical trilogy "With Fire and Sword" (1883-1884), "The Flood" (1884-1886), "Pan Volodyevsky" (1887-1888). All these novels were greeted with enthusiasm by readers and today are considered classics of Polish literature. The first novel depicts the struggle of the gentry of the Commonwealth with the Cossacks of Khmelnitsky. In the second part of the trilogy, the picture of the liberation war of the Poles with the Swedish intervention of 1655-1656 is recreated. The third novel poetizes the feats of arms of the Polish knights during the Turkish invasion (1672-1673).
The psychological novel Without Dogma (1889-1890) depicts the type of decadent aristocrat. In it, Sienkiewicz experiments with introspection, choosing the form of a diary for the novel, while the novel itself also has naturalistic features.
In the novel The Polaniecki Family (1893-1894), the satirical depiction of secular society contrasts with the idealization of a businessman from the nobility.
The epic novel "Quo vadis" (in some Russian translations of "Kamo are coming", 1894-1896) depicts the struggle of Nero against the Christians. Thus, the novel draws a parallel between the struggle of the early Christians against Nero and the struggle of the Poles for independence. The victory of Christian spirituality over the materialism of Rome is a critique of materialism and decadence, as well as an allegory of a resurgent spirit in Poland.
Dedicated to the struggle of the Poles and Litvins with the Teutonic Order at the end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th centuries historical novel"Crusaders" (1897-1900). The novel tells about the victory of the Poles over the Germans. The novel had a political connotation, since at that time there was an attempt to Germanize Polish society. The book became compulsory reading in Polish schools after Poland's independence.
The novel "Omut" (1909-1910) tells about the events of the Russian Revolution of 1905-1907.
In 1910-1911 he wrote an adventure story for children "In the Wilds of Africa". The novel about the participation of the Poles in the Napoleonic wars "Legions" (1913-1914) remained unfinished.
Meaning
During his lifetime, Sienkiewicz became one of the most famous and popular Polish writers in Poland and abroad. After the trilogy "Fire and Sword", "Flood", "Pan Volodyevsky" became the Polish writer with the highest earnings (he received 70 thousand rubles from the publisher for the right to publish the trilogy for 20 years).
The work of Henryk Sienkiewicz played big role in the history of Polish culture and received worldwide recognition (Nobel Prize in Literature, 1905, "For outstanding services in the field of epic"). Quo vadis has been translated into more than forty languages. The novel Without Dogma (1889-1890) was highly valued by L. N. Tolstoy, N. S. Leskov, A. P. Chekhov, Maxim Gorky and other Russian writers. Most of Sienkiewicz's novels have been filmed. Most notable film adaptations: "Quo vadis" (1951, USA), "Fire and Sword" (1999, Poland), "Quo vadis" (2001, Poland).
Also, the Il-62 aircraft with tail number RA-86708 was named in his honor.
In Rome, on the Old Appian Way ( Via Appia Antica), stands the church of Domine-Quo-Vadis (according to legend, at this place the Apostle Peter, who fled from Rome from persecution, met Christ and turned back - this episode is described in Sienkiewicz's novel "Quo vadis"). The church has a bust of Sienkiewicz erected by Polish emigrants.
In a portrait from 1899
Monument in Czestochowa
Museum of Senkevich in Oblengorka
Bust of Sienkiewicz in Domine Quo Vadis Church
Artworks
Novels
- Historical trilogy about the Commonwealth
- "Fire and sword" / Polish. Ogniem i mieczem (1883 - 1884)
- "The Flood" / Polish. Flood (1884 - 1886)
- "Pan Volodyovski" / Polish. Pan Wołodyjowski (1887 - 1888)
- "Without dogma" / Polish. Bez dogmatu (1889 - 1890)
- "The Polaniecki Family" / Polish. Rodzina Połanieckich (1893 - 1894)
- "Kamo come" / lat. Quo vadis (1894 - 1896)
- "Crusaders" / Polish. Krzyżacy (1897 - 1900)
- "Pools" / Polish. Wiry (1909 - 1910)
- "Legions" / Polish. Legion (1913 - 1914)
Novels and stories
- "In vain" / Polish. Na marne (1872)
- "Humoresques from Vorshilla's portfolio" / Polish. Humoreski z teki Worszyłły (1872)
- "Old Servant" / Polish. Stary sluga (1875)
- "Letters from a Journey" / Polish. Listy z podróży (1876 - 1878)
- "Ganya" / Polish. Hania (1876)
- "Selim Mirza" / Polish. Selim Mirza (1877)
- "Sketches with charcoal" / Polish. Szkice węglem (1877)
- "Janko the Musician" / Polish. Janko Muzykant (1878)
- "From the diary of a Poznań teacher" / Polish. Z pamiętnika poznańsķiego nauczyciela (1879)
- "On the Prairies" / Polish. Przez stepy (1879)
- "For bread" / Polish. Za chlebem (1880)
- "Lamplight at the lighthouse" / Polish. Latarnik (1881)
- "Bartek the winner" / Polish. Bartek Zwycięzca (1882)
- "Angel" / Polish. Jamiol (1882)
- "That third" / Polish. Ta trzecia (1888)
- "Sachem" / Polish. Sachem (1889)
- "Memories of Mariposa" / Polish. Wspomnienie z Maripozy (1889)
- "In the desert and the forest" / Polish. W pustyni i w puszczy (1910 - 1911)
Multi-volume editions
- Senkevich Henryk. Sobr. op. in 9 volumes. M.: Art literature, 1983–1985.
- Senkevich Henryk. Sobr. op. in 9 volumes. Moscow: Terra-Book Club, 1998.
