PRL-owski żywot Henryka Sienkiewicza

Abstract

The article encapsulates the reasons behind the popularity of Henryk Sienkiewicz in the People's Republic of Poland, emphasising the fact that many factors contributed to the long-lasting presence of the writer in the public awareness. The most important to be listed are the on-going popularity of his writings, revived in Europe during World War II (texts with anti-German purport), the presence of the writer and his writings in the curricula at all educational levels after the war, editorial policy, widespread critical acclaim (from all sides, in the country for instance from the Marxist critics and Catholic alike), endeavours to popularise his writings, their successful film adaptations. Despite the writer's image and his writings being manipulated during the Stalinist period, Sienkiewicz strengthened his position as a top-ranked national writer.