J. I. KRASZEWSKI: AN ANECDOTAL MEMOIR FROM THE TIMES OF STANISŁAW AUGUST [1876].

Description

We present the first edition of “An Anecdotal Diary” by Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski (1812-1887) – one of the most prolific and versatile Polish writers, author of more than 600 literary and historical works. The publication was published in 1876 in Poznań by the bookstore of Jan Konstanty Żupański – one of the most important publishers in Greater Poland in the second half of the 19th century.

“An Anecdotal Memoir” is a fascinating chronicle that reveals daily life and colorful episodes from the era of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski (1732-1798). In this unique publication, the author deftly combines anecdotes, stories and insightful observations, bringing to life historical figures and the atmosphere of 18th-century Poland. Page after page reveals the secrets of court intrigues, political dramas and intimate moments that make this period one of the most interesting in Polish history.

Although best known as a novelist (author of, among other things, “The Old Tale”), Kraszewski was also an outstanding historian and publicist. He pursued his interest in the Stanislavski era throughout his life, and “An Anecdotal Memoir” was written on the basis of his thorough source research and passion for the history of his homeland. The book is part of the trend of nineteenth-century historiography, which, through anecdote and storytelling, sought to bring readers closer to the past in an accessible and colorful way.

This is a first edition. The copy has stains on the title page and up to the 25th sheet, which is a natural sign of age and use. It appears sporadically on the antiquarian market. This is a must-have for a collector of Polish history, a lover of the Stanislawski era and a bibliophile looking for first editions of Kraszewski’s works.

1801-24-C-W