Od pisarki znanej do nieznanej. Szwedzki przypadek Elizy Orzeszko

Abstract

At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Polish writer Eliza Orzeszkowa enjoyed an established position on the world literature scene. In this sketch, I present the Swedish perspective on the author of Nad Niemnem, called Elise Orzeszko in that region. Firstly, the Polish writer was a perfect fit with the Swedish interest in Polish literature and history. This interest was fuelled by both researchers and translators of Polish literature into Swedish. The most important figures include Alfred Jensen (1859–1921), Swedish Slavist and translator and Ellen Sofia Wester (a.k.a. E. Weer, 1873–1930), a Swedish translator of Romantic, Positivist and Young Poland literature. Of course, George Brandes (1842–1927), a well-known Danish literary historian, essayist and literary critic must not be forgotten with his famous Impressions from Poland (Intryck från Polen), translated from Danish in 1890 and often quoted in numerous works by Swedes. Secondly, the great role of Polish literary texts read by the receptive Swedish readers, well acquainted with selected works of Polish classics from Mickiewicz to Reymont is also worth stressing.