Kazus Małaszka

Abstract

Małaszka by Gabriela Śnieżko-Zapolska was first published in Lviv in 1883, then in the Warsaw weekly magazine "Przegląd Tygodniowy". It evoked a strong critical reaction. Between 1883 and 1886, at least 51 related polemics, arguments and mentions were noted in the press. At the same time, Orzeszkowa's Mirtala, Prus's The Outpost [Placówka], With Fire and Sword [Ogniem i mieczem] and The Deluge [Potop] by Sienkiewicz, On the Rocks is Calvados [Na skałach Calvados] by Sygietyński and Aspasia [Aspazja] by Świętochowski had their premieres. In this context, fluency in operating personal narration of the author who was only entering the market was of an extraordinary value. Thus, it should be acknowledged that the critical - self-interested, unjust, distorted and hypocritical - reception of Zapolska's short story turns out to be the completely proportional testimony of the reading, or more broadly, cognitive shock caused by Małaszka to journalists writing about literature. The article analyses the political background and the suit brought by the writer against the plagiarism accusation formulated by Jan Ludwik Popławski. The trial became a breakthrough event not only in Zapolska's career but also for Aleksander Świętochowski who, with great eloquence, accompanied her in court.