Drugi pogrzeb Henryka Sienkiewicza. Zgrzyty i skandale
The Second Funeral of Henryk Sienkiewicz. Tensions and Scandals

Summary/Abstract: The second funeral of Henryk Sienkiewcz took place in October 1924. The coffin with his mortal remains was transported from Vevey to Warsaw and interred in the crypt of St. John’s Cathedral. The associated celebration had a character of a national manifestation, the course of which was related in detail in the Polish press. It appreciated the splendour of this manifestation and reported on its solemn social atmosphere. However, it also noticed organisational shortcomings, and captured lines of diverse conflicts. The aim of this paper is to interpret the tensions and scandals described in daily newspapers on the days of the novelist’s funeral. They reveal false statements that those celebrations were free of any conflicts, and picture, in particular, a heated dispute between right- and left-wing parties concerning their attitude towards Sienkiewicz. The author of this paper presents his critical opinion on the book by Jan Czempiński, published in 1927, which documents the events during the novelist’s funeral.

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