Powieść historyczna według Sienkiewicza. Teoria i praktyka
The historical novel according to Sienkiewicz. Theory and practice

Summary/Abstract: Sienkiewicz had shown a keen interest in the issue of the historical novel prior to making his own first attempts at the genre. Among various reviews written by Sienkiewicz, a short analysis of Kraszewski’s Teutonic Knights 1410 (Krzyżacy 1410) is of particular significance, since Sienkiewicz stipulates there a general outline of the genre. On the other hand, while evaluating Historical Sketches (Szkice historyczne) by Ludwik Kubala, Sienkiewicz pointed to the potential literatureness of the history itself. The practical realisation of the genre of historical novel, as exercised by the author of The Trilogy, was preceded by his Tartar Captivity (Niewola tatarska), stylised for an old-Polish diary. And the famous series of novels set in the 17th century had formed the model of historical novel which was subsequently repeated in Quo Vadis and The Teutonic Knights (Krzyżacy). Sienkiewicz generalised on his writing experience in a lecture on the historical novel, in which he listed his views regarding the purpose and the form of the genre.

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