The period of Romanticism has a special meaning for the Polish people. In spite of political and military defeats suffered between 1772 and 1863, and, most tragically, the loss of independence, Poland "had not lost her life yet." Considerable credit for her survival and subsequent rebirth must be given to Adam Mickiewicz, Juliusz Slowacki, Zygmunt Krasinski, and Cyprian Norwid, the leading Romantic poets who sustained the nation during its supreme trial, proving once more that the pen is mightier than the sword.

Polish Romantic Literature (covering the period from 1822 to 1863) follows Professor Mikos's Medieval Literature of Poland (1992), Polish Renaissance Literature (1995), and Polish Baroque and Enlightenment Literature (1996), the last two published by Slavica. This is the first collection of texts in English devoted solely to the significant literary achievements of Polish Romanticism. The volume, addressed to the general public, students of literature, and scholars, presents 121 texts by twelve major poets, playwrights, and prose writers. Many of the selections are rendered into English for the first time. Three concise introductory essays describe major historical events, cultural developments, and literary accomplishments of Polish Romanticism. Each author is introduced by a biographical note, and the texts are annotated. The volume is illustrated and contains a bibliography of translations, general surveys, and critical studies.

CONTENTS:

List of Illustrations
Foreword
Introduction

Adam Mickiewicz

Ode to Youth
Romanticism
Father's Return
Mrs. Twardowski
To the Niemen
To M***
The Hare and the Frong
Sonnets

II. I Speak to Myself
XV. Good Morning
XVI. Good Night
XVII. Good Evening

Crimean Sonnets

I. The Akkerman Steppes
II. The Calm of the Sea
III. Sea Travel
IV. The Storm
VIII. Potocki's Grave
X. Baydary
XIV. The Pilgrim
XVIII. Ajudah

Konrad Wallenrod

Introduction
Song of the Brad

To ***
To a Polish Mother
To My Cicerone
Evening Discourse
Forefather's Eve Part III

Act I, scene I
Act I, scene II. The Improvisation

The Monument of Peter the Great
Master Thaddeus

I The Manor Farm
XI The Year 1812
XII Let Us Love One Another

A Stubborn Wife
Apothegms and Sayings

Degrees of Truths
Veni Creator Spiritus
Word and Deed
Guest

Lausanne Lyrics

You Ask Why God
Mouths Shouting For the Crowd
To Spin Love
Over the Water Grand and Clear
When my Corpse Sits Here
I Shed Pure Tears

Separation
Hymn
My Testament
The Funeral of Captain Meyzner
In the Album of Sophie Bobrówna
For It Is the Poet's Brightest Glory
No More Can I Be Frightened by Any Fate
To Mother
A Fiery Angel-Angel at My Left Side
If in My Land at Any Time Whatever
Give Me One Mile of Land and Nothing Else
To Mother (2)
O! Miserable, O! Subjugated
In Switzerland I-III
The Wreath Was Woven Out of Accursed Matter
When the First Cocks Sing Unto the Master
Journey to the Holy Land from Naples

Song VIII. Agamemnon's Tomb

Beniowski

Song V. The Supple Tongue. O Lord!

Anhelli

Chapter I, II, VII

Kordian

Act III, scene IV

Fantazy

Act I, scene I, XIV, XV

Letter to Mother

God Has Denied Me the Angelic Measure
If Happiness and Glory at Any Time
I Scarcely Met You, Yet I Must Say Adieu
Ere the Sun Rises, Dew Will Eat Our Eyes Out!
Whatever Will Be, Whatever Will Happen
Ever and Always
I Would Kneel Perhaps
The Un-Divine Comedy

Part III, IV

Irydion

Introduction

Autumn
My Song(II)
"Will I Request Amnesty?"
As...
Give Me That Blue Ribbon
Gernalities
In Verona
Fate
Mercy
The Two Siberias
Nerves
Their Strength
Why Not in Chorus
Funeral Rhapsody in Memory of Bem
To Citizen John Brown
Chopin's Piano
From a Persian Poet
Every Place Has Its Own Night-Symphony
Letter to Michal Kleczkowski

Maria

Song I: I, II, XIV, XVII
Song II: IX, XV, XVI, XVII

Revenge

Act I, Scene I
Act III, Scene IV

Mister Jowialski

Ronald and Donald

The Memoirs of Sir Seweryn Soplica

XVI. How I Got Married

An Old Tale
The Old Man and the Old Woman

The Golden Mug
The Guelder Rose
Forgiveness
A Conversation Between a Peasant and a Scientist

In the ALbum of Princess Puzynina

The Song About Our Land
Cranes and Storks

The Snowed-in Hut
Some Time-Dying