O wypowiedziach zalecających w polskich drukach z drugiej połowy XVIII wieku

Abstract

In her study, the author’s focus of interest are formally variegated literary and belles‑lettres texts which, in publications of the second half of the 18th century, held a status of additional parts of delimitation character and, as a peritextual elements, performed a recommendatory function in relation to work they accompanied, or the said function was one of the many assigned to them. Part One of the present considerations is devoted to relatively poorly represented amongst the publications of the Enlightenment period (basically appearing in multi‑author or multi‑volume publications), yet characteristic for books of previous two centuries, texts recommending to readers acquainting themselves with effects of the daily grind performed by men of letters. Exemplified by a few editions, the author of the article characterizes, mostly rhyming texts written by the authors themselves or other befriended writers and editors, which were aimed at winning benevolence of readers for the authors, or more broadly, for the hard work of editors. In Part Two of the study, the attention shifts to recommendatory aspects of prose texts that in publications of these days prefaced works of Enlightenment authors or re‑editions and first editions of works originating in previous centuries. According to the latter criterion, the original letters directed to the book’s writer are published, along with, provided in brief outlines, recommendations included in censors’ acceptances, but also in prefaces by authors, editors and printers.