O próbie mariażu literatury katolickiej z popularną – twórczość Izabeli Lutosławskiej-Wolikowskiej

Abstract

The article summarizes the main motifs of Izabela Lutosławska’s writing. A columnist and a translator, Lutosławska was above all the author of several novels, widely-read in 1930s. Her novels were meant to combine the elements of the poetics of popular novel with the catholic novel, strongly promoted at that time. Such a combination would make it easier to bring up existential and religious issues without resorting to overly blatant form. At the same time, Lutosławska’s writing reflects romantic and positivist heritage (as well as the heritage of Rodziewiczówna’s writing), from both the aspect of sacralization of the Polish rural surroundings and tilling the soil, as well as of continuing traditional views on femininity and masculinity. Femininity in Lutosławska’s novels, however, takes on a new dimension: it becomes elevated in its daily chores, in a kitchen, in a garden; though men are still in the lead as far as socio-political activity is concerned. The analysis of different themes within her novels also concerned autobiographical motifs, or – in more general terms – family inspirations and models for some characters.