The Library of Gdansk of the Polish Academy of Sciences is inviting visitors to an exhibition “For the strengthening – visions of a free Poland in the literature of the 19th century”. It features first editions of some of Poland’s most valuable works, including Adam Mickiewicz’s “Pan Tadeusz,” lesser-known women’s literature and ownership entries of former book collectors.

Literature for the strengthening of hearts was intended to soothe the pain after the defeats of the national uprisings and ensure that the spirit of independence did not collapse and the zeal of love for the Fatherland was not extinguished. In accordance with the maxim “To speak of Poland is to bring it back to life”, novels and short stories to sustain the spirit of the nation, historical studies recalling the beautiful pages of Polish history and guidebooks showing the beauty of the native landscape were published. 

“Poland – the country that didn’t exist. For the entire nineteenth century it formally did not exist. Erased from the political map, it never disappeared from the heart of the nation. It owes its survival largely to the written word” says the library’s comment.

Read more: https://bgpan.gda.pl/aktualnosc/ku-pokrzepieniu-wizje-wolnej-polski-w-literaturze-xix-wieku/