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Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz ( , ; 5 May 1846 – 15 November 1916), also known by the pseudonym Litwos (), was a
Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
writer, novelist, journalist and Nobel Prize laureate. He is best remembered for his historical novels, especially for his internationally known best-seller ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' (1896). Born into an impoverished Polish noble family in Russian-ruled
Congress Poland Congress Poland, Congress Kingdom of Poland, or Russian Poland, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland, was a polity created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna as a semi-autonomous Polish state, a successor to Napoleon's Duchy of Warsaw. It w ...
, in the late 1860s he began publishing journalistic and literary pieces. In the late 1870s he traveled to the United States, sending back travel essays that won him popularity with Polish readers. In the 1880s he began serializing novels that further increased his popularity. He soon became one of the most popular Polish writers of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and numerous translations gained him international renown, culminating in his receipt of the
1905 Nobel Prize in Literature The 1905 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Polish novelist Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846–1916) "because of his outstanding merits as an epic writer."
for his "outstanding merits as an epic writer." Many of his novels remain in print. In Poland he is best known for his " Trilogy" of historical novels – '' With Fire and Sword'', '' The Deluge'', and '' Sir Michael'' – set in the 17th-century Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth; internationally he is best known for ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'', set in Nero's Rome. ''The Trilogy'' and ''Quo Vadis'' have been filmed, the latter several times, with Hollywood's 1951 version receiving the most international recognition.


Life


Early life

Sienkiewicz was born on 5 May 1846 in Wola Okrzejska, now a village in the central part of the eastern Polish region of
Lubelskie The Lublin Voivodeship, also known as the Lublin Province (Polish: ''województwo lubelskie'' ), is a voivodeship (province) of Poland, located in southeastern part of the country. It was created on January 1, 1999, out of the former Lublin, Che ...
, then part of the Russian Empire. His family were impoverished Polish nobles, on his father's side deriving from Tatars who had settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. His parents were Józef Sienkiewicz (1813–96) of the Oszyk coat of arms and Stefania Cieciszowska (1820–73). His mother descended from an old and affluent Podlachian family. He had five siblings: an older brother, Kazimierz (who died during
January Uprising The January Uprising ( pl, powstanie styczniowe; lt, 1863 metų sukilimas; ua, Січневе повстання; russian: Польское восстание; ) was an insurrection principally in Russia's Kingdom of Poland that was aimed at ...
of 1863-1864), and four sisters: Aniela, Helena, Zofia and Maria. His family were entitled to use the Polish Oszyk coat of arms. Wola Okrzejska belonged to the writer's maternal grandmother, Felicjana Cieciszowska. His family moved several times, and young Henryk spent his childhood on family estates in
Grabowce Górne Grabowce Górne is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nowodwór, within Ryki County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Nowodwór, east of Ryki, and north-west of the regional capital Lu ...
, Wężyczyn and
Burzec Burzec is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wojcieszków, within Łuków County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Wojcieszków, south-west of Łuków, and north of the regional capital ...
. In September 1858 he began his education in Warsaw, where the family would finally settle in 1861, having bought a tenement house ( ''kamienica'') in eastern Warsaw's Praga district. He received relatively poor school-grades except in the humanities, notably Polish language and history. Due to hard times, the 19-year-old Sienkiewicz took a job as tutor to the Weyher family in Płońsk. It was probably in this period that he wrote his first novel, ''Ofiara'' (Sacrifice); he is thought to have destroyed the manuscript of the never-published novel. He also worked on his first novel to be published, ''Na marne'' (In Vain). He completed extramural secondary-school classes, and in 1866 he received his secondary-school diploma. He first tried to study medicine, then law, at the Imperial University of Warsaw, but he soon transferred to the university's Institute of Philology and History, where he acquired a thorough knowledge of literature and
Old Polish Language The Old Polish language ( pl, język staropolski, staropolszczyzna) was a period in the History of Polish, history of the Polish language between the 10th and the 16th centuries. It was followed by the Middle Polish language. The sources for t ...
. Little is known about this period of his life, other than that he moved out of his parents' home, tutored part-time, and lived in poverty. His situation improved somewhat in 1868 when he became a tutor to the princely Woroniecki family. In 1867 he wrote a rhymed piece, "''Sielanka Młodości''" ("Idyll of Youth"), which was rejected by ''
Tygodnik Illustrowany ''Tygodnik Illustrowany'' (, ''The Illustrated Weekly'') was a Polish language weekly magazine published in Warsaw from 1859 to 1939. The magazine focus was on literary, artistic and social issues. History It is said to have been one of the mos ...
'' (The Illustrated Weekly). In 1869 he debuted as a journalist; ''Przegląd Tygodniowy'' (1866–1904) (The Weekly Review) ran his review of a play on 18 April 1869, and shortly afterward ''The Illustrated Weekly'' printed an essay of his about the late-Renaissance Polish poet
Mikołaj Sęp Szarzyński Mikołaj Sęp Szarzyński (c. 1550 – c. 1581) was an influential Polish poet of the late Renaissance who wrote in both Polish and Latin. He was a pioneer of the Baroque and the greatest representative of the metaphysical movement of the era ...
. He completed his university studies in 1871, though he failed to receive a diploma because he did not pass the examination in Greek language. Sienkiewicz also wrote for ''Gazeta Polska'' (The Polish Gazette) and ''Niwa'' (magazine), under the pen name "Litwos". In 1873 he began writing a column, ''"Bez tytułu''" ("Without a title"), in ''The Polish Gazette''; in 1874 a column, "''Sprawy bieżące''" ("Current matters") for ''Niwa''; and in 1875 the column, "''Chwila obecna''" ("The present moment"). He also collaborated on a Polish translation, published in 1874, of
Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...
's last novel, '' Ninety-Three''. In June that year he became co-owner of ''Niwa'' (in 1878, he would sell his share in the magazine). Meanwhile, in 1872, he had debuted as a fiction writer with his short novel ''Na marne'' (In Vain), published in the magazine ''Wieniec'' (Garland). This was followed by ''Humoreski z teki Woroszyłły'' (Humorous Sketches from Woroszyłła's Files, 1872), ''Stary Sługa'' (The Old Servant, 1875), ''Hania'' (Sienkiewicz) (1876) and ''Selim Mirza'' (1877). The last three are known as the "Little Trilogy". These publications made him a prominent figure in Warsaw's journalistic-literary world, and a guest at popular dinner parties hosted by the actress
Helena Modrzejewska Helena Modrzejewska (; born Jadwiga Benda; 12 October 1840 – 8 April 1909), known professionally as Helena Modjeska, was a Polish actress who specialized in Shakespearean and tragic roles. She was successful first on the Polish stage. After e ...
.


Travels abroad

In 1874 Henryk Sienkiewicz was briefly engaged to Maria Keller, and traveled abroad to Brussels and Paris. Soon after he returned, his fiancée's parents cancelled the engagement. In 1876 Sienkiewicz went to the United States with Helena Modrzejewska (soon to become famous in the U.S. as actress
Helena Modjeska Helena Modrzejewska (; born Jadwiga Benda; 12 October 1840 – 8 April 1909), known professionally as Helena Modjeska, was a Polish actress who specialized in Shakespearean and tragic roles. She was successful first on the Polish stage. After e ...
) and her husband. He traveled via London to
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
and then on to San Francisco, staying for some time in California. His travels were financed by ''Gazeta Polska'' (The Polish Gazette) in exchange for a series of travel essays: Sienkiewicz wrote Listy z podróży (Letters from a Journey) and ''Listy Litwosa z Podróży'' (Litwos' Letters from a Journey), which were published in ''The Polish Gazette'' in 1876–78 and republished as a book in 1880. Other articles by him also appeared in ''Przegląd Tygodniowy'' (The Weekly Review) and ''Przewodnik Naukowy i Literacki'' (The Learned and Literary Guide), discussing the situation of
American Polonia Polish Americans ( pl, Polonia amerykańska) are Americans who either have total or partial Polish ancestry, or are citizens of the Republic of Poland. There are an estimated 9.15 million self-identified Polish Americans, representing about 2.83 ...
. He briefly lived in the town of
Anaheim Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most p ...
, later in Anaheim Landing (now
Seal Beach, California Seal Beach is a coastal city in Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,242, up from 24,168 at the 2010 census. Seal Beach is located in the westernmost corner of Orange County. To the northwest ...
). He hunted, visited Native American camps, traveled in the nearby mountains (the Santa Ana, Sierra Madre, San Jacinto, and
San Bernardino Mountains The San Bernardino Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in Southern California in the United States. Situated north and northeast of San Bernardino and spanning two California counties, the range tops out at at San Gorgonio Mountain ...
), and visited the Mojave Desert, Yosemite Valley, and the
silver mine Silver mining is the extraction of silver from minerals, starting with mining. Because silver is often found in intimate combination with other metals, its extraction requires elaborate technologies. In 2008, ca.25,900 metric tons were consumed ...
s at Virginia City, Nevada. On 20 August 1877 he witnessed Modjeska's U.S. theatrical debut at San Francisco's California Theatre, which he reviewed for ''The Polish Gazette''; and on 8 September he published in the Daily Evening Post an article, translated into English for him by Modjeska, on "Poland and Russia". In America, he also continued writing fiction, in 1877 publishing Szkice węglem (Charcoal Sketches) in ''The Polish Gazette''. He wrote a play, ''Na przebój'', soon retitled ''Na jedną kartę'' (On a Single Card), later staged at Lviv (1879) and, to better reception, at Warsaw (1881). He also wrote a play for Modjeska, aimed at an American public, ''Z walki tutejszych partii'' (Partisan Struggles), but it was never performed or published, and the manuscript appears to be lost. On 24 March 1878 Sienkiewicz left the U.S. for Europe. He first stayed in London, then for a year in Paris, delaying his return to Poland due to rumors of possible conscription into the
Imperial Russian Army The Imperial Russian Army (russian: Ру́сская импера́торская а́рмия, tr. ) was the armed land force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian Ar ...
on the eve of a predicted new war with Turkey.


Return to Poland

In April 1879 Sienkiewicz returned to Polish soil. In Lviv (Lwów) he gave a lecture that was not well attended: "''Z Nowego Jorku do Kalifornii''" ("From New York to California"). Subsequent lectures in Szczawnica and Krynica in July–August that year, and in Warsaw and Poznań the following year, were much more successful. In late summer 1879 he went to Venice and Rome, which he toured for the next few weeks, on 7 November 1879 returning to Warsaw. There he met Maria Szetkiewicz, whom he married on 18 August 1881. The marriage was reportedly a happy one. The couple had two children, Henryk Józef (1882–1959) and Jadwiga Maria (1883–1969). It was a short-lived marriage, however, because on 18 August 1885 Maria died of tuberculosis. In 1879 the first collected edition of Sienkiewicz's works was published, in four volumes; the series would continue until 1917, ending with a total of 17 volumes. He also continued writing journalistic pieces, mainly in ''The Polish Gazette'' and ''Niwa''. In 1881 he published a favorable review of the first collected edition of works by Bolesław Prus. In 1880 Sienkiewicz wrote a historical novella, Niewola tatarska (Tartar Captivity). In late 1881 he became editor-in-chief of a new Warsaw newspaper, ''Słowo'' (The Word). This substantially improved his finances. The year 1882 saw him heavily engaged in the running of the newspaper, in which he published a number of columns and short stories. Soon, however, he lost interest in the journalistic aspect and decided to focus more on his literary work. He paid less and less attention to his post of editor-in-chief, resigning it in 1887 but remaining editor of the paper's literary section until 1892. From 1883 he increasingly shifted his focus from short pieces to historical novels. He began work on the historical novel, ''Ogniem i Mieczem'' ( With Fire and Sword). Initially titled ''Wilcze gniazdo'' (The Wolf's Lair), it appeared in serial installments in ''The Word'' from May 1883 to March 1884. It also ran concurrently in the Kraków newspaper, ''Czas'' (Time). Sienkiewicz soon began writing the second volume of his Trilogy, '' Potop'' (The Deluge). It ran in ''The Word'' from December 1884 to September 1886. Beginning in 1884, Sienkiewicz accompanied his wife Maria to foreign sanatoriums. After her death, he kept on traveling Europe, leaving his children with his late wife's parents, though he often returned to Poland, particularly staying for long periods in Warsaw and Kraków beginning in the 1890s. After his return to Warsaw in 1887, the third volume of his Trilogy appeared – ''
Pan Wołodyjowski ''Pan Michael'' ( pl, Pan Wołodyjowski; also translated into English as ''Sir Michael'' and ''Colonel Wolodyjowski''; literally, ''Sir Wołodyjowski'') is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1887. It is the ...
'' (Sir Michael) – running in ''The Word'' from May 1887 to May 1888. The Trilogy established Sienkiewicz as the most popular contemporary Polish writer. Sienkiewicz received 15,000 rubles, in recognition of his achievements, from an unknown admirer who signed himself "
Michał Wołodyjowski Jerzy Michał Wołodyjowski () is a fictional Polish hero in Henryk Sienkiewicz's Trilogy: ''With Fire and Sword'', ''The Deluge'' and ''Pan Wołodyjowski''. Michał Wołodyjowski is partly based on the historic figure, Colonel , a Polish noble ...
" after the Trilogy character. Sienkiewicz used the money to set up a fund, named for his wife and supervised by the Academy of Learning, to aid artists endangered by tuberculosis. In 1886, he visited Istanbul; in 1888, Spain. At the end of 1890 he went to Africa, resulting in ''Listy z Afryki'' (Letters from Africa, published in ''The Word'' in 1891–92, then collected as a book in 1893). The turn of the 1880s and 1890s was associated with intensive work on several novels. In 1891 his novel ''
Without dogma ''Without dogma'' is a novel of manners by Henryk Sienkiewicz, a Polish Nobel Prize in Literature winner, published in 1891. Its narrative concentrates around the experiences of Leon Płoszowski, a man from a wealthy aristocratic family, who st ...
'' (''Bez Dogmatu''), previously serialized in 1889–90 in ''The Word'', was published in book form. In 1892 Sienkiewicz signed an agreement for another novel, Rodzina Połanieckich (Children of the Soil), which was serialized in ''The Polish Gazette'' from 1893 and came out in book form in 1894.


Later years

Sienkiewicz had several romances, and in 1892 Maria Romanowska-Wołodkowicz, stepdaughter of a wealthy
Odessa Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrativ ...
n, entered his life. He and Romanowska became engaged there in 1893 and married in Kraków on 11 November. Just two weeks later, however, his bride left him; Sienkiewicz blamed "in-law intrigues". On 13 December 1895 he obtained
papal The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
consent to dissolution of the marriage. In 1904 he married his niece, Maria Babska. Sienkiewicz used his growing international fame to influence world opinion in favor of the Polish cause (throughout his life and since the late 18th century, Poland remained partitioned by her neighbors, Russia, Austria and Prussia, later Germany). He often criticized German policies of Germanization of the Polish minority in Germany; in 1901 he expressed support of Września schoolchildren who were protesting the banning of the Polish language. More cautiously, he called on Russia's government to introduce reforms in Russian-controlled
Congress Poland Congress Poland, Congress Kingdom of Poland, or Russian Poland, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland, was a polity created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna as a semi-autonomous Polish state, a successor to Napoleon's Duchy of Warsaw. It w ...
. During the Revolution in the Kingdom of Poland, he advocated broader Polish autonomy within the Russian Empire. Sienkiewicz maintained some ties with Polish right-wing
National Democracy National Democracy may refer to: * National Democracy (Czech Republic) * National Democracy (Italy) * National Democracy (Philippines) * National Democracy (Poland) * National Democracy (Spain) See also * Civic nationalism, a general concept * Na ...
politicians and was critical of the socialists, but he was generally a moderate and declined to become a politician and a deputy to the
Russian Duma The State Duma (russian: Госуда́рственная ду́ма, r=Gosudárstvennaja dúma), commonly abbreviated in Russian as Gosduma ( rus, Госду́ма), is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, while the upper house ...
. In the cultural sphere, he was involved in the creation of the Kraków and Warsaw monuments to Adam Mickiewicz. He supported educational endeavors and co-founded the Polska Macierz Szkolna organization. "Reasonably wealthy" by 1908 thanks to sales of his books, he often used his new wealth to support struggling writers. He helped gather funds for social-welfare projects such as starvation relief, and for construction of a tuberculosis sanatorium at Zakopane. He was as prominent in philanthropy as in literature. In February 1895 he wrote the first chapters of ''Quo Vadis''. The novel was serialized, beginning in March 1895, in Warsaw's ''Polish Gazette'', Kraków's ''Czas'' (Time), and Poznań's ''Dziennik Poznański'' (Poznań Daily). The novel was finished by March 1896. The book edition appeared later the same year, and soon gained international renown. In February 1897 he began serializing a new novel, ''Krzyżacy'' (The Teutonic Knights, or The Knights of the Cross); serialization finished in 1900, and the book edition appeared that year. In 1900, with a three-year delay due to the approaching centenary of Mickiewicz's birth, Sienkiewicz celebrated his own quarter-century, begun in 1872, as a writer. Special events were held in a number of Polish cities, including Kraków, Lwów and Poznań. A jubilee committee presented him with a gift from the Polish people: an estate at
Oblęgorek Oblęgorek is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Strawczyn, within Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately east of Strawczyn and north-west of the regional capital Kielce. The ...
, near
Kielce Kielce (, yi, קעלץ, Keltz) is a city in southern Poland, and the capital of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. In 2021, it had 192,468 inhabitants. The city is in the middle of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Holy Cross Mountains), on the bank ...
, where he later opened a school for children. In 1905 he won a Nobel Prize for his lifetime achievements as an epic writer. In his acceptance speech, he said this honor was of particular value to a son of Poland: "She was pronounced dead – yet here is proof that she lives on.... She was pronounced defeated – and here is proof that she is victorious." His social and political activities resulted in a diminished literary output. He wrote a new historical novel, ''Na polu chwały'' (On the Field of Glory), that was meant as the beginning of a new trilogy; it was, however, criticized as being a lesser version of his original '' Trilogy'', and was never continued. Similarly, his contemporary novel ''Wiry'' (Whirlpools), 1910, which sought to criticize some of Sienkiewicz's political opponents, received a mostly polemical and politicized response. His 1910 novel for young people, ''W pustyni i w puszczy'' (In Desert and Wilderness), serialized in ''Kurier Warszawski'' (The Warsaw Courier), finishing in 1911, was much better received and became widely popular among children and young adults. After the outbreak of World War I, Sienkiewicz was visited at Oblęgorek by a Polish Legions cavalry unit under
Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski Bolesław Ignacy Florian Wieniawa-Długoszowski (22 July 1881 – 1 July 1942) was a Polish general, adjutant to Chief of State Józef Piłsudski, politician, freemason, diplomat, poet, artist and formally for one day the President of the Republ ...
. Soon after, he left for Switzerland. Together with Ignacy Paderewski and Erazm Piltz, he established an organization for Polish war relief. He also supported the work of the Red Cross. Otherwise, he eschewed politics, though shortly before his death he endorsed the Act of 5th November 1916, a declaration by Emperors Wilhelm II of Germany and Franz Joseph of Austria and king of Hungary, pledging the creation of a Kingdom of Poland envisioned as a puppet state allied with, and controlled by, the Central Powers.


Death

Sienkiewicz died on 15 November 1916, at the Grand Hotel du Lac in Vevey, Switzerland, where he was buried on 22 November. The cause of death was
ischemic heart disease Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial ischemia, or simply heart disease, involves the reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle due to build-up of atherosclerotic pla ...
. His funeral was attended by representatives of both the Central Powers and the
Entente Entente, meaning a diplomatic "understanding", may refer to a number of agreements: History * Entente (alliance), a type of treaty or military alliance where the signatories promise to consult each other or to cooperate with each other in case o ...
, and an address by Pope Benedict XV was read. In 1924, after Poland had regained her independence, Sienkiewicz's remains were repatriated to Warsaw, Poland, and placed in the crypt of St. John's Cathedral. During the coffin's transit, solemn memorial ceremonies were held in a number of cities. Thousands accompanied the coffin to its Warsaw resting place, and Poland's President Stanisław Wojciechowski delivered a eulogy.


Works

Sienkiewicz's early works (e.g., the 1872 ''Humoreski z teki Woroszyłły'') show him a strong supporter of Polish Positivism, endorsing constructive, practical characters such as an engineer. Polish "Positivism" advocated economic and social modernization and deprecated armed irredentist struggle. Unlike most other Polish Positivist writers, Sienkiewicz was a conservative. His Little Trilogy (''Stary Sługa'', 1875; ''Hania'', 1876; ''Selim Mirza'', 1877) shows his interest in Polish history and his literary maturity, including fine mastery of humor and drama. His early works focused on three themes: the oppression and poverty of the peasants ("Charcoal Sketches", 1877); criticism of the partitioning powers ("''Z pamiętnika korepetytora''", "''
Janko Muzykant Janko Muzykant (translated into English as ''Janko the Musician'', and less commonly as ''Yanko the Musician'' or ''Johnny the Musician'') is a short story (also described as novella) by Polish writer and winner of 1905 Nobel Prize in Literature, ...
''" Janko the Musician" 1879); and his voyage to the United States ("''Za chlebem''", "For Bread", 1880). His most common motif was the plight of the powerless: impoverished peasants, schoolchildren, emigrants. His "''Latarnik''" ("The Lighthouse keeper", 1881) has been described as one of the best Polish short stories. His 1882 stories "''Bartek Zwycięzca''" ("Bart the Conqueror") and "''Sachem''" draw parallels between the tragic fates of their heroes and that of the occupied Polish nation. His novel ''With Fire and Sword'' (1883–84) was enthusiastically received by readers (as were the next two volumes of
The Trilogy The Trilogy (1884-1888) is a series of three novels written by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz. The series follows dramatized versions of famous events in Polish history, weaving fact and fiction. It is considered great literary work on p ...
), becoming an "instant classic", though critical reception was lukewarm. The Trilogy is set in 17th-century Poland. While critics generally praised its style, they noted that some historic facts are misrepresented or distorted. The Trilogy merged elements of the
epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film with heroic elements Epic or EPIC may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and medi ...
and the historical novel, infused with special features of Sienkiewicz's style. The Trilogy's patriotism worried the censors; Warsaw's Russian censor I. Jankul warned Sienkiewicz that he would not allow publication of any further works of his dealing with Polish history. Sienkiewicz's ''
Without dogma ''Without dogma'' is a novel of manners by Henryk Sienkiewicz, a Polish Nobel Prize in Literature winner, published in 1891. Its narrative concentrates around the experiences of Leon Płoszowski, a man from a wealthy aristocratic family, who st ...
'' (''Bez dogmatu'', 1889–90) was a notable artistic experiment, a self-analytical novel written as a fictitious diary. His works of the period are critical of decadent and naturalistic philosophies. He had expressed his opinions on naturalism and writing, generally, early on in "''O naturaliźmie w powieści''" ("Naturalism in the Novel", 1881). A dozen years later, in 1893, he wrote that novels should strengthen and ennoble life, rather than undermining and debasing it. Later, in the early 1900s, he fell into mutual hostility with the
Young Poland Young Poland ( pl, Młoda Polska) was a modernist period in Polish visual arts, literature and music, covering roughly the years between 1890 and 1918. It was a result of strong aesthetic opposition to the earlier ideas of Positivism. Young Pola ...
movement in Polish literature. These views informed his novel ''Quo Vadis'' (1896). This story of early Christianity in Rome, with protagonists struggling against the Emperor Nero's regime, draws parallels between repressed early Christians and contemporary Poles; and, due to its focus on Christianity, it became widely popular in the Christian West. The triumph of spiritual Christianity over materialist Rome was a critique of
materialism Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds matter to be the fundamental substance in nature, and all things, including mental states and consciousness, are results of material interactions. According to philosophical materiali ...
and decadence, and also an allegory for the strength of the Polish spirit. His '' Teutonic Knights'' returned to Poland's history, describing the Battle of Grunwald (1410), a Polish-Lithuanian victory over the Teutonic Knights in the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War. Both in German and Polish culture the Teutonic Knights were incorrectly viewed as precursors to modern Germans while the Polish-Lithuanian union was regarded as a model for a future independent Polish state. These assumptions tied in well with the contemporary political context of ongoing Germanization efforts in
German Poland The Prussian Partition ( pl, Zabór pruski), or Prussian Poland, is the former territories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth acquired during the Partitions of Poland, in the late 18th century by the Kingdom of Prussia. The Prussian acquis ...
. So, the book quickly became another Sienkiewicz bestseller in Poland, and was received by critics better than his Trilogy had been; it was also applauded by the Polish right-wing, anti-German
National Democracy National Democracy may refer to: * National Democracy (Czech Republic) * National Democracy (Italy) * National Democracy (Philippines) * National Democracy (Poland) * National Democracy (Spain) See also * Civic nationalism, a general concept * Na ...
political movement, and became part of the Polish school curriculum after Poland regained independence in 1918. It is often incorrectly asserted that Sienkiewicz received his Nobel Prize for ''Quo Vadis''. While ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' is the novel that brought him international fame, the Nobel Prize does not name any particular novel, instead citing "his outstanding merits as an epic writer". Sienkiewicz often carried out substantial historic research for his novels, but he was selective in the findings that made it into the novels. Thus, for example, he prioritized Polish military victories over defeats. Sienkiewicz kept a diary, but it has been
lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...
.


Recognition

About the turn of the 20th century, Sienkiewicz was the most popular writer in Poland, and one of the most popular in Germany, France, Russia, and the English-speaking world. The Trilogy went through many translations; ''With Fire and Sword'' saw at least 26 in his lifetime. ''Quo Vadis'' became extremely popular, in at least 40 different language translations, including English-language editions totaling a million copies. The American translator
Jeremiah Curtin Jeremiah Curtin (6 September 1835 – 14 December 1906) was an American ethnographer, folklorist, and translator. Curtin had an abiding interest in languages and was conversant with several. From 1883 to 1891 he was employed by the Bureau of Ame ...
has been credited with helping popularize his works abroad. However, as Russia (of which Sienkiewicz was a citizen) was not a signatory to the Berne Convention, he rarely received any
royalties A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset o ...
from the translations. Already in his lifetime his works were adapted for theatrical, operatic and musical presentations and for the emerging film industry. Writers and poets devoted works to him, or used him or his works as inspiration. Painters created works inspired by Sienkiewicz's novels, and their works were gathered in Sienkiewicz-themed albums and exhibitions. The names of his characters were given to a variety of products. The popularity of ''Quo Vadis'' in France, where it was the best-selling book of 1900, is shown by the fact that horses competing in a Grand Prix de Paris event were named for characters in the book. In the United States, ''Quo Vadis'' sold 800,000 copies in eighteen months. To avoid intrusive journalists and fans, Sienkiewicz sometimes traveled incognito. He was inducted into many international organizations and societies, including the Polish Academy of Learning, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Royal Czech Society of Sciences, and the Italian
Academy of Arcadia The Accademia degli Arcadi or Accademia dell'Arcadia, "Academy of Arcadia" or "Academy of the Arcadians", was an Italian literary academy founded in Rome in 1690. The full Italian official name was Pontificia Accademia degli Arcadi. History F ...
. He received the French '' Légion d'honneur'' (1904), honorary doctorates from the
Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University (Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
(1900) and
Lwów University The University of Lviv ( uk, Львівський університет, Lvivskyi universytet; pl, Uniwersytet Lwowski; german: Universität Lemberg, briefly known as the ''Theresianum'' in the early 19th century), presently the Ivan Franko Na ...
(1911), and honorary citizenship of
Lwów Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...
(1902). In 1905 he received the most prestigious award in the world of literature, the Nobel Prize, after having been nominated in that year by Hans Hildebrand, member of the
Swedish Academy The Swedish Academy ( sv, Svenska Akademien), founded in 1786 by King Gustav III of Sweden, Gustav III, is one of the Swedish Royal Academies, Royal Academies of Sweden. Its 18 members, who are elected for life, comprise the highest Swedish lang ...
. Named for Sienkiewicz, in Poland, are numerous streets and squares (the first street to bear his name was in Lwów, in 1907). Named for him is
Białystok Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is the tenth-largest city in Poland, second in terms of population density, and thirteenth in area. Białystok is located in the Białystok Up ...
's '' Osiedle Sienkiewicza''; city parks in Wrocław and Łódź; and over 70 schools in Poland. He has statues in a number of Polish cities, including Warsaw's
Łazienki Park Łazienki Park or Royal Baths Park ( pl, Park Łazienkowski, Łazienki Królewskie) is the largest park in Warsaw, Poland, occupying 76 hectares of the city center. The park-and-palace complex lies in Warsaw's central district ('' Śródmieście ...
(the first statue was erected at Zbaraż, now in Ukraine), and in Rome A Sienkiewcz Mound stands at
Okrzeja Okrzeja is a village (former town) in the administrative district of Gmina Krzywda, within Łuków County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Krzywda, south-west of Łuków, and north-west of the regio ...
, near his birthplace, Wola Okrzejska. He has been featured on a number of postage stamps. There are three museums dedicated to him in Poland. The first, the Henryk Sienkiewicz Museum in Oblęgorek (his residence), opened in 1958. The second, founded in 1966, is in his birthplace: the Henryk Sienkiewicz Museum in Wola Okrzejska. The third opened in 1978 at Poznań. In Rome (Italy), in the small church of "Domine Quo Vadis", there is a bronze bust of Henryk Sienkiewicz. It is said that Sienkiewicz was inspired to write his novel ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' while sitting in this church. Outside Poland, Sienkiewicz's popularity declined beginning in the interbellum, except for ''Quo Vadis'', which retained relative fame thanks to several film adaptations, including a notable American one in 1951. In Poland his works are still widely read; he is seen as a classic author, and his works are often required reading in schools. They have also been adapted for Polish films and television series. The first critical analyses of his works were published in his lifetime. He has been the subject of a number of biographies. His works have received criticism, in his lifetime and since, as being simplistic: a view expressed notably by the 20th-century Polish novelist and dramatist Witold Gombrowicz, who described Sienkiewicz as a "first-rate second-rate writer". Vasily Rozanov described ''Quo Vadis'' as "not a work of art", but a "crude factory-made
oleograph Chromolithography is a method for making multi-colour prints. This type of colour printing stemmed from the process of lithography, and includes all types of lithography that are printed in colour. When chromolithography is used to reproduce ph ...
", while
Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...
called Sienkiewicz's writing "sickeningly cloying and clumsy". Nonetheless, the Polish historian of literature
Henryk Markiewicz Henryk Markiewicz (16 November 1922 – 31 October 2013) was a Polish historian, specializing in the history and theory of literature, with the particular focus on the Polish literature of 1864-1939. He was a professor emeritus of the Jagielloni ...
, writing the '' Polski słownik biograficzny'' (Polish Biographical Dictionary) entry on Sienkiewicz (1997), describes him as a master of Polish prose, as the foremost Polish writer of historical fiction, and as Poland's internationally best-known writer.


Selected works


Novels

* ''
The Trilogy The Trilogy (1884-1888) is a series of three novels written by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz. The series follows dramatized versions of famous events in Polish history, weaving fact and fiction. It is considered great literary work on p ...
'' (''Trylogia''): ** '' With Fire and Sword'' (''Ogniem i mieczem'', 1884) depicts the 17th-century
Khmelnytsky Uprising The Khmelnytsky Uprising,; in Ukraine known as Khmelʹnychchyna or uk, повстання Богдана Хмельницького; lt, Chmelnickio sukilimas; Belarusian language, Belarusian: Паўстанне Багдана Хмяльніц ...
of Ukraine's
Cossacks The Cossacks , es, cosaco , et, Kasakad, cazacii , fi, Kasakat, cazacii , french: cosaques , hu, kozákok, cazacii , it, cosacchi , orv, коза́ки, pl, Kozacy , pt, cossacos , ro, cazaci , russian: казаки́ or ...
against Poland; the novel has been made into a feature film of the same title and inspired the video game Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword. ** ''The Deluge'' (''Potop'', 1886) depicts the 17th-century Swedish invasion of Poland, the "Deluge"; the novel has been made into a feature film of the same title; ** ''Sir Michael'' (''Pan Wołodyjowski'', 1888) depicts Poland's struggle against the Ottoman Empire, invading Poland in 1668–72; the novel has been made into a feature film, '' Colonel Wołodyjowski''. * ''
Without dogma ''Without dogma'' is a novel of manners by Henryk Sienkiewicz, a Polish Nobel Prize in Literature winner, published in 1891. Its narrative concentrates around the experiences of Leon Płoszowski, a man from a wealthy aristocratic family, who st ...
'' (''Bez dogmatu'', 1891). * ''The Polaniecki Family'', a.k.a. ''Children of the Soil'' (''Rodzina Połanieckich'', 1894). * ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' (1895): a story of
St. Peter ) (Simeon, Simon) , birth_date = , birth_place = Bethsaida, Gaulanitis, Syria, Roman Empire , death_date = Between AD 64–68 , death_place = probably Vatican Hill, Rome, Italia, Roman Empire , parents = John (or Jonah; Jona) , occupation ...
in Rome in the reign of Emperor Nero. * ''The Teutonic Knights'' (a.k.a. ''The Knights of the Cross'': ''Krzyżacy'', 1900) relates to the Battle of Grunwald; the novel was made into a 1960 feature film of the same title, by
Aleksander Ford Aleksander Ford (born Mosze Lifszyc; 24 November 1908 in Kiev, Russian Empire – 4 April 1980 in Naples, Florida, United States, U.S.) was a Polish film director; and head of the Polish People's Army of Poland, People's Army Film Crew in the Sov ...
. * ''
On the Field of Glory ''On the Field of Glory'' ( pl, Na Polu Chwały) is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1906. The novel tells a story of a fictional young impoverished Polish nobleman and his love for a young aristocratic w ...
'' (''Na polu chwały'', 1906): a story of King
John III Sobieski John III Sobieski ( pl, Jan III Sobieski; lt, Jonas III Sobieskis; la, Ioannes III Sobiscius; 17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1674 until his death in 1696. Born into Polish nobility, Sobie ...
and the
Battle of Vienna The Battle of Vienna; pl, odsiecz wiedeńska, lit=Relief of Vienna or ''bitwa pod Wiedniem''; ota, Beç Ḳalʿası Muḥāṣarası, lit=siege of Beç; tr, İkinci Viyana Kuşatması, lit=second siege of Vienna took place at Kahlenberg Mou ...
. * Whirlpool (novel) (''Wiry'', 1910). * '' In Desert and Wilderness'' (''W pustyni i w puszczy'', 1912): the adventures of a Polish boy, Staś, and a younger English girl, Nell, in Africa during the
Mahdist War The Mahdist War ( ar, الثورة المهدية, ath-Thawra al-Mahdiyya; 1881–1899) was a war between the Mahdist Sudanese of the religious leader Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, who had proclaimed himself the "Mahdi" of Islam (the "Guided On ...
of 1881–99.


Other

* ''Yanko the Musician and other stories'' (1893) * ''Lillian Morris and other stories'' (1894) * ''Hania and other stories'' (1897) * ''Let Us Follow Him and other stories'' (1897, unauthorized) * ''Sielanka, a forest picture, and other stories'' (1898) * ''On the Bright Shore'' (1898) * ''In Vain'' (1899) * ''Life and Death and other legends and stories'' (1904) * ''So Runs the World'' (criticism, a story, and two short dramas, "Whose Fault?" and "Win or Lose")


Filmography

* ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' (dir. Enrico Guazzoni, 1913) * ''
Obrona Częstochowy ''Obrona Częstochowy'' is a 1913 Polish historical film. It is based on a novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Cast * Maria Dulęba as Olenka Billewiczówna *Aleksander Zelwerowicz Aleksander Zelwerowicz (14 August 1877 in Lublin – 18 June 1955 in ...
'' (dir.
Edward Puchalski Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sax ...
, 1913) * ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' (dir.
Gabriellino D'Annunzio Gabriele Maria "Gabriellino" D'Annunzio (10 April 1886 – 8 December 1945) was an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director. He was the son of the Italian writer Gabriele D'Annunzio. He adapted the 1921 film '' The Ship'' from a novel by h ...
and Georg Jacoby, 1924) * ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' (dir.
Mervyn LeRoy Mervyn LeRoy (; October 15, 1900 – September 13, 1987) was an American film director and producer. In his youth he played juvenile roles in vaudeville and silent film comedies. During the 1930s, LeRoy was one of the two great practitioners of ...
, 1951) * ''
Szkice węglem ''Szkice węglem'' is a 1957 Polish historical film directed by Antoni Bohdziewicz. It is based on a novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz ( , ; 5 May 1846 – 15 November 1916), also known by the pseudonym L ...
'' (dir.
Antoni Bohdziewicz Antoni Bohdziewicz (11 September 1906 – 20 October 1970) was a Polish screenplay writer and director, best known for his 1956 adaptation of '' Zemsta'' by Aleksander Fredro. Bohdziewicz was born in the city of Vilna (modern Vilnius), then part ...
, 1957) * ''
Knights of the Teutonic Order The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians on ...
'' (dir.
Aleksander Ford Aleksander Ford (born Mosze Lifszyc; 24 November 1908 in Kiev, Russian Empire – 4 April 1980 in Naples, Florida, United States, U.S.) was a Polish film director; and head of the Polish People's Army of Poland, People's Army Film Crew in the Sov ...
, 1960) * ''
Invasion 1700 ''Invasion 1700'' ( it, Col ferro e col fuoco, french: Par le fer et par le feu, also known as ''With Fire and Sword'' and ''Daggers of Blood'') is a 1962 Italian-French historical epic film directed by Fernando Cerchio. It is based on the 1884 P ...
'' (dir. Fernando Cerchio, 1962) * ''
Colonel Wolodyjowski ''Pan Michael'' ( pl, Pan Wołodyjowski; also translated into English as ''Sir Michael'' and ''Colonel Wolodyjowski''; literally, ''Sir Wołodyjowski'') is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1887. It is the ...
'' (dir. Jerzy Hoffman, 1969) * '' In Desert and Wilderness'' (dir.
Władysław Ślesicki Władysław is a Polish given male name, cognate with Vladislav. The feminine form is Władysława, archaic forms are Włodzisław (male) and Włodzisława (female), and Wladislaw is a variation. These names may refer to: Famous people Mononym *W ...
, 1973) * '' The Deluge'' (dir. Jerzy Hoffman, 1974) * ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' (TV miniseries, dir. Franco Rossi, 1985) * '' With Fire and Sword'' (dir. Jerzy Hoffman, 1999) * '' In Desert and Wilderness'' (dir. Gavin Hood, 2001) * ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' (dir. Jerzy Kawalerowicz, 2001)


See also

*
Onufry Zagłoba Jan Onufry Zagłoba is a fictional character in the ''Trilogy'' by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Together with other characters of ''The Trilogy'', Zagłoba engages in various adventures, fighting for the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and seeking adve ...
* Polish literature * List of Poles * List of Polish Nobel laureates


References


External links


List of works
* * * *
Henryk Sienkiewicz Books Collection
* *
Works of Henryk Sienkiewicz at Polish Wikisource



Henryk Sienkiewicz
at poezja.org (polish)
the Henryk Sienkiewicz Museum in Oblegorek

Henryk Sienkiewicz
at culture.pl *
4 Polish Writers Who Won the Nobel Prize in Literature
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sienkiewicz, Henryk 1846 births 1916 deaths People from Łuków County People from Lublin Governorate Polish nobility Clan of Oszyk People from the Russian Empire of Lipka Tatar descent Polish Roman Catholics 19th-century Polish novelists 20th-century Polish novelists Jauch family Polish male novelists Polish historical novelists Polish Nobel laureates Roman Catholic writers Nobel laureates in Literature Corresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences Honorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences Members of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Burials at St. John's Archcathedral, Warsaw Conservatism in Poland Christian novelists Polish positivism