Władysław Orkan (27 November 1875 – 14 May 1930) (actually born as ''Franciszek Ksawery Smaciarz'', changed surname to Smreczyński, but primarily known under his pen name, Orkan) was a

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...

writer and poet from 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 Pol ...

period. He is known as one of the greatest Polish writers from

Podhale Podhale (literally "below the mountain pastures") is Poland's southernmost region, sometimes referred to as the "Polish Highlands". The Podhale is located in the foothills of the Tatra range of the Carpathian mountains. It is the most famous ...

region and ''

Góral Góral is a Polish habitational surname A toponymic surname or topographic surname is a surname derived from a place name.

'' folk; the most famous of his works portray the common people from that region.

Biography

Born in Poręba Wielka, Limanowa County as ''Franciszek Ksawery Smaciarz'', he attended the elementary school in Szczyrzyc. He started publishing while in the fourth grade; he also joined many extracurricular clubs and organization, including pro-Polish independence ones. Due to his involvement in such activities, his grades suffered, and he never passed the

matura or its translated terms (''Mature'', ''Matur'', , , , , , ) is a Latin name for the secondary school exit exam or "maturity diploma" in various European countries, including Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, C ...

exam. He returned to Poręba village, and continued writing. He debuted in 1896 with a publication of a poem, patriotic poem ''Nad grobem matki'' and several satirical verses. In 1898 he published his first work, collection of short stories, ''Nowele''; that year he also changed his surname in to Smreczyński. He published more works soon thereafter: another collection short stories ''Nad urwiskiem'' in 1900, a novel ''Komornicy'' (1900), drama ''Postronni'' (1903), a verse volume ''Z tej smutnej ziemi'' (1903), novel ''W roztokach'' (1908) and others. In early 1900s he started construction of a new house; the same building later became the Biographical Museum of Władysław Orkan (''Muzeum Biograficzne Władysława Orkana'' or ''Orkanówka'' for short). At that time he also married Maria Zwierzyńska and they had one child, Zofia. Maria died three years after giving birth, and Władysław Orkan, always troubled with finances, asked his sister to raise his daughter. He later married Bronisława Folejewska. During those years he also travelled to Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. During the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

he joined the Polish Legions (4th Regiment). For most of his life he stayed in Poręba village. In addition to writing, he was also an activist for the region, cofounder and member of the Association of

Gorals The Gorals ( pl, Górale; Goral dialect: ''Górole''; sk, Gorali; Cieszyn Silesia dialect, Cieszyn Silesian: ''Gorole''), also known as the Highlanders (in Poland as the Polish Highlanders) are an indigenous ethnographic or ethnic group primar ...

. He wanted to a create a single Goral political entitywhich would be called Greater Podhale (Greater Podhale is an archaic term for the Goral Lands and has generally fallen out of use due to it favouring

above all regions) and stressed the ethnic unity of Gorals from all regions. After the war, he continued to write; particularly notable are lyrical poems constituting a cycle ''Pochwała życia'', the drama ''Widma'' (1917–1927), the novel ''Czantoria'' (1928–1929) and his articles and essays ''Listy ze wsi'' (1925–1927). He died in

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...

; shortly before he could collect the 1930 City of

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...

’s Award for Literature. He is buried at the

Rakowicki Cemetery Rakowicki Cemetery (English: ; pl, Cmentarz Rakowicki) is a historic necropolis and a cultural heritage monument located on 26 Rakowicka Street in the centre of Kraków, Poland. It lies within the Administrative District No. 1 ''Stare Miasto'' ...

, but next year he was exhumed and moved to a Remembrance Cemetery at Pęksowy Brzyzek,

Zakopane Zakopane ( Podhale Goral: ''Zokopane'') is a town in the extreme south of Poland, in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998, it was part of Nowy Sącz Voivodeship; since 1999, it has been ...

. After his death, many regional organisations were set up under his name, to commemorate his contribution to the culture and prestige of the Goral Lands.

Works

One of the most common image in his works was the poor Goral village. However his works contain other images as well, for example descriptions of mountain countryside and nature, and humorous elements. His early works were inspired by Stanisław Witkiewicz.

Poetry

*Nad grobem Matki. Dumania. ''Kraków 1896'' *Z tej smutnej ziemi. ''Lwów 1903'' *Z martwej roztoki. ''Kraków 1912'' *Pieśni czasu. ''Piotrków 1915''

Dramas

*Skapany świat. Dramat w czterech aktach z epilogiem. ''Lwów 1903'' *Ofiara. Fragment w trzech aktach z r.1846. ''Kraków 1905'' *Wina i kara. Tragedia. ''Kraków 1905'' *Franek Rakoczy. Epilog w trzech aktach. ''Lwów 1908''

Short stories

*Nowele. ''Warszawa 1898'' *Nad urwiskiem. Szkice i obrazki. ''Lwów 1900'' *Herkules nowożytny i inne wesołe rzeczy. ''Kraków 1905'' *Miłość pasterska. Nowele. ''Lwów 1908'' *Wesele Prometeusza. ''Warszawa 1921''

Novels

*Komornicy. ''Lwów 1900'' *W roztokach (tom I i II). ''Lwów 1903'' *Pomór. ''Kraków 1910'' *Drzewiej. ''Kraków 1912'' *Kostka Napierski. ''Warszawa 1925''

Non-fiction

*Drogą Czwartaków. Od Ostrowca na Litwę. ''Kraków 1916'' *Listy ze wsi (tom I i II). ''Warszawa 1925-1927 *Warta. Studia, listy, szkice. ''Lwów 1926'' *Wskazania. ''Warszawa 1930''

Unfinished

* Czantoria (i inne pisma społeczne). ''Warszawa 1936''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Orkan, Wladyslaw 1875 births 1930 deaths People from Limanowa County Polish Gorals Polish male writers Polish legionnaires (World War I)