Władysław Orkan (27 November 1875 – 14 May 1930) (born ''Franciszek Ksawery Smaciarz'', later changed to Smreczyński, also known under his

pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...

, ''Orkan'') was a Polish Goral writer and poet from the Young Poland period. He is known as one of the greatest Goral writers. The most famous of his works portray the common people from the region and Goral history.

Biography

Born in

Poręba Wielka, Limanowa County Poręba Wielka is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Niedźwiedź, within Limanowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately west of Niedźwiedź, west of Limanowa, and south of the regiona ...

as Franciszek Ksawery Smaciarz, he attended the

elementary school A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...

Szczyrzyc Szczyrzyc (formerly ''Szczyrzyce'') is a village in Poland, located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Limanowa County, Jodłownik Commune. Geography Geographically it is located in the Beskid Wyspowy, in the Stradomka river valley. It lies ...

. 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 secondary school exit exam exam. Orkan returned to the village of Poręba, 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 many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

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 or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

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 (; Goral ethnolect: ''Górole''; ; Cieszyn Silesian dialect, Cieszyn Silesian: ''Gorole''), also anglicized as the Highlanders, are an ethnographic group with historical ties to the Vlachs. The Goral people are primarily found in thei ...

. He wanted to a create a single Goral political entity which 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

Podhale Podhale (; ), sometimes referred to as the Polish Highlands, is Poland's southernmost region. The Podhale is located in the foothills of the Tatra range of the Carpathian Mountains. It is the most famous region of the Goral Lands which are a ...

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 , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

; shortly before he could collect the 1930 City of

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

’s Award for Literature. He is buried at the

Rakowicki Cemetery Rakowicki Cemetery (English: ; ) is a historic necropolis and a cultural heritage monument located on 26 Rakowicka Street in Kraków, Poland. It lies within the Administrative District No. 1 ''Stare Miasto'' meaning "Old Town" – distinct from ...

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

Zakopane Zakopane (Gorals#Language, Podhale Goral: ''Zokopane'') is a town in the 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 ...

. 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)