Polish Authors

Polish writers and their works

By Antonia P.

Jan Kochanowski

He was born in 1530 and died in 22.08.1584. He was a poet, a translator, a court poet of Stefan Batory and a royal secretary of Zygmunt August. He was one of the greatest artists of Renaissance in Europe. He is called the father of polish literature. He wrote epigrams, songs, laments and tragedy ,,The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys'' (Odprawa posłów greckich).

The Laments by Kochanowski was written by poet after death his loved daughter. Urszulka died when she was two and half years old. In his laments Kochanowski described his pain, sadness and desperation after death his daughter. The laments were released in 1580.

Ignacy Krasicki

He was born in 03.02.1735 and died in 14.03.1801. He was a writer, a poet, and the Archbishop of Gniezno. He is the author of many stories, novels, poems and satires. His the most popular works are: ,,The Mouseiad'' (Myszeida), ,,The Adventures of Nicholas Experience" (Mikołaja Doświadczyńskiego przypadki), ,,Monachomachii"(Monachiomachia) and ,,Fables and Parables'' (Bajki i przypowieści).

The Adventures of Nicholas Experience( Mikołaja Doświadczyńskiego przypadki) was the first Polish novel. It was released in 1776. It was written like a diary. It consist three parts. The novel is Nicholas' biography full of adventures since his childhood to adulthood. First part describes his childhood and youth. Second part describes his stay on the Nipu Island and his change. The last part describes his come back to Poland and his life later. This novel teaches, entertains and educates.

Adam Mickiewicz

He was born in 24.12.1798 and died in 26.11.1855. The Polish romantic poet considered the national bard. He was a publicist, a translator, a philosopher and academic teacher. His the most popular works: ,,Mr Tadeusz" (Pan Tadeusz), ,,Ballads and Romances" (Ballady i romance), ,,The Crimeans Sonnets" ( Sonety krymskie), ,,Konrad Wallenrod", ,,Dziady" and ,,The Ordon's Redoubt" (Reduta Ordona).

Mister Tadeusz (Pan Tadeusz) is the greatest work of Adam Mickiewicz. It was written in 1832-1834 in Paris. It was released in 1834. This is a national epic. It was written in twelve books. This is a noble history which describes noble life and customs in the years 1811-1812. It beggins a famous invocation.

Julian Tuwim

He was born in 13.09.1894 and died in 27.12.1953. He was a poet, a satirist and he wrote cabaret texts. He was the author of many popular poems for kids. The most famous poems are: ,,Locomotive" (Lokomotywa), ,,Trumpet Elephant" (Słoń Trąbalski), ,,Bambo", and ,,Mister Hilary" (Pan Hilary).

Poems for kids of Julian Tuwim are liked by children and adults. His poetry is timeless. This is a classic of polish literature for children. His poems are very funny. Most of them have a hidden moral or the message.

Jan Brzechwa

He was born in 15.08.1898 and died in 02.07.1966. He was a poet, a satirist, author many stories and poems for kids. His the most popular works are: ,,Mr. Kleks Academy" (Akademia Pana Kleksa), ,,Poems and Stories" (Wiersze i bajki), ,,Brzechwa to Children" (Brzechwa dzieciom) and ,,Ducky Strange" (Kaczka dziwaczka).

Every child in Poland knows poems of Jan Brzechwa. His poems are liked by kids and adults. They are timeless. This is a classic of literature for kids. Jan Brzechwa's poems it's a world full of adventures. The main characters are animals and plants. His poems teach, educate, make fun of bad behavior and praise good behavior

Władysław Reymont

He was born in 07.05.1867 and died in 5.12.1925. He was a writer, a prose writer and novelist. In 1924 he got the Nobel Prize for book ,,The Peasants". The most popular books are: ,,The Peasants" (Chłopi), ,,The Promised Land" (The Promised Land), ,,The Deceiver" (Komediantka), ,,The Dreamer" (Marzyciel) and ,,The Vampire" (Wampir).

The Peasants is the greatest work of Władysław Reymont. He got the Nobel Prize in 1924 for this novel. In this novel author describes Polish village, country life, relations between the manor and the village, role of the church in the village and hierarchy in the village. The main characters are Maciej Boryna, Jagna, Antek Boryna, Hanka Borynowa, Magda, Kowal Michał, Jankiel and Kuba.

Henryk Sienkiewicz

He was born in 05.05.1846 and died in 15.11.1916. The one of the most greatest and the most popular Polish writers. In 1905 he got the Nobel Prize in the field of literature for his all work. His the most popular works are: ,,The Knights of the Cross" (Krzyżacy), ,,Quo Vadis", Trilogy (Trylogia) and ,,In Desert and Wilderness'' (W pustyni i w puszczy).

Quo Vadis is the most famous novel of Henryk Sienkiewicz. This book brings him international fame. It was translated for fifty languages. Quo Vadis is a historical novel. Author describes Neron times and beginnings of Christians. The main characters are Neron, Petroniusz, Marek Wincjusz, Ligia and Ursus. This novel was screened several times.

Czesław Miłosz

He was born in 30.06.1911 and died in 14.08.2004. He was a poet, a prose writer, an essayist, a translator and literary historian. In 1980 he got The Nobel Prize for his work. In his live he got many others literary awards. His the most popular works are: ,,Rescue" (Ocalenie), ,,The Captive Mind" (Zniewolony Umysł), ,,Native Realm" (Rodzinna Europa), ,,The Issa Valley" (Dolina Issy), ,,The Land of Ulro" (Ziemia Ulro) and ,,A Treatise on Poetry" (Traktat poetycki).

The Issa Valley" (Dolina Issy) is a novel which was published in Paris in 1955 and in Poland in 1981. This book was written on emigration. This work goes back to childhood memories. Book action happens in Lithuania after ending of The Second World War. The main character is young and sensitive boy Tomasz who lonely learns about the world.

Wisława Szymborska

She was born in 02.07.1923 and died in 01.02.2012. She was a very famous poet, essayist, critic and columnist. In 1996 she got The Nobel Prize in the field of literature. In January 2011 she received the Order of the White Eagle award. Her the most popular poetic volumes are: ,,That's Why We Are All Alive" (Dlatego żyjemy), ,,Calling Out to Yeti" (Wołanie do Yeti), ,,No End of Fun" (100 pociech), ,,People on the Bridge" (Ludzie na moście), ,,The End and the Beginning" (Koniec i początek) and ,,100 Poems – 100 Happinesses" (Sto wierszy- 100 pociech).

Nothing Twice (Nic dwa razy) is one of the most popular and greatest poems of her works. Many composers make a music to this poem. In this work author speaks about love, happiness of lovers, but also about love means pain and disappointment. The love passes away like everything in our life.

Olga Tokarczuk

She was born in 29.01.1962. She is a writer, a poet and an essayist. In 2019 she received The Nobel Prize for Literature for 2018 year. In 2018 she won The Man Booker Internationial Prize for her novel ,,Flights" (Bieguni). She got twice literary award Nike for her novels ,,Flights" and ,,The books of Jacob" (Księgi Jakubowe). The most popular works of her are: ,,Flights", ,,The books of Jacob", ,,Primeval and Other Times" (Prawiek i inne czasy), ,,House of Day, House of Night" (Dom dzienny, dom nocny) and ,,Playing on Many Drums: 19 stories" (Gra na wielu bębenkach). She is also a honorary citizen of Wroclaw.

Flights (Bieguni) is one of the greatest and very mature work of Olga Tokarczuk. This book is about travels, being on the road all the time and includes elements of culture and philosophy of life. The author in her book tells about her view of the world and herself. This is the first polish book, which received International Booker Prize.

Źródła

https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/jan-kochanowski https://histmag.org/Jan-Kochanowski-najwazniejszy-polski-poeta-renesansu-21497/ https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/ignacy-krasicki https://poezja.org/wz/Krasicki_Ignacy/ https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/adam-mickiewicz https://ciekawostkihistoryczne.pl/leksykon/adam-mickiewicz-1798-1855/ https://poezja.org/wz/Tuwim_Julian/ https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/julian-tuwim http://juliantuwim.pl/ https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/jan-brzechwa http://wierszykidladzieci.pl/wierszykibrzechwy.php https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/wladyslaw-reymont https://instytutksiazki.pl/aktualnosci,2,95-lat-temu-zmarl-wladyslaw-reymont,5859.html https://muzhp.pl/pl/e/1466/urodzil-sie-wladyslaw-reymont https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/henryk-sienkiewicz https://mnki.pl/sienkiewicz/pl/o_muzeum/henryk_sienkiewicz__biografia https://dzieje.pl/postacie/henryk-sienkiewicz-1846-1916 https://www.milosz.pl/ https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/czeslaw-milosz https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/wislawa-szymborska https://poezja.org/wz/Szymborska_Wis%C5%82awa/ https://culture.pl/pl/tworca/olga-tokarczuk https://www.wydawnictwoliterackie.pl/autor/207/olga-tokarczuk