Remembering famous Polish writer Sienkiewicz

He received the prize in 1905 for “his outstanding merits as an epic writer.”

The Museum of Literature and the Independence Museum in Warsaw have launched special exhibitions to mark the anniversary.

The former is devoted to the writer’s historical novels focusing on 17th century Poland, notably the trilogy “Ogniem i mieczem” (With Fire and Sword), “Potop” (The Deluge) and “Pan Wołodyjowski”, and “Krzyżacy” (The Teutonic Knights).

A separate section is devoted to Sienkiewicz’s greatest success, “Quo Vadis”, a novel about the persecution of Christians at the time of Nero. The book established the writer’s international reputation.

The exhibition at the Independence Museum includes first editions of all of Sienkiewicz’s books and their translations into numerous languages.

Sienkiewicz was immensely popular. In 1900, a national subscription raised enough funds to buy him the small estate of Oblęgorek, south-central Poland, where he lived until 1914. After the outbreak of World War I he went to Switzerland, where he promoted the cause of Polish independence and organized relief for Polish war victims. He died in Vevey in 1916.

Several of Sienkiewicz’s novels have been made into films. (mk/pk)