Zofia Kossak w kręgu Sienkiewiczowskich tematów kresowych

Abstract

The article is an attempt at pinpointing differences and similarities in ways of shaping the images of Eastern Borderlands (Kresy) of the old Republic of Poland in novels by Henryk Sienkiewicz and in Zofia Kossak’s prose. The thesis undertaken in the paper is justified merely by the fact that Stanisław Cat-Mackiewicz dubbed the authoress of The Crusaders “the Sienkiewicz’s daughter”. As a matter of fact, it also expresses, rather common in literary criticism, inclination to compare both types of historical writing, for instance because of placing the plots of the novels in turbulent 17th century or similar ways of their characters’ entanglement in historical events. Yet, differences between both novelistic worlds easily balance the similarities. Both writers are enthralled by Romantic tradition of Kresy description as well as clearly defined emotional attitude to those places, which nonetheless is of the various origins. In the case of the authoress of Conflagration it is directly biographical imperative. To Sienkiewicz, on the other hand, the image of Kresy emerges form his artistic imagination and from the readings of the literary as well as historical texts. The next element which differentiates and in some aspects makes the works of both authors resemble is their philosophy of history. The interest in history and the knowledge of it as well as literary predilection for the genre of historical novel do not result for the author of The Trilogy and Zofia Kossak in a similar manner of artistic creation. What is characteristic for the writings of Kossak is her indication of historical events’ mechanisms and a constant will to gain the parenetic content out of it. Notwithstanding, the Sienkiewicz’s “moralizing” is of a more intricate nature.