An Ancient Tale (novel): Difference between revisions

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An Ancient Tale. Novel in Polish history (in Polish Stara baśń. Powieść z dziejów Polski) - is a historical novel by popular 19th century Polish writer Józef Ignacy Kraszewski published by Gebethner i Wolff (Gebethner & Wolff Publishers) in 1876 in Warsaw, then Russia. This work was the first novel in the long fiction novels series on the subject of Poland's history by Kraszewski. The second edition was published in 1879, in a lavishly illustrated form, with the plates done by then popular illustrator Michał Elwiro Andriolli. The manuscript of the novel was destroyed during World War II.

The content of the novel refers to old Polish stories and legends, including a cruel ruler prince Popiel who is one of the main characters in it, but the author calls him Chwostek. The story takes place during pre-historic times, in the lands of the pagan Polans tribe. The first theme of the novel is the political struggle between Chwostek and his wife Brunhilda, and their court, against the clans and free farmers. Prince wants to introduce an absolute rule based on the Holy Roman Emperor's example while his subjects want to preserve their freedoms. As the struggle intensifies prince commits more and more cruel acts (mutilations, murders etc.) causing his subjects to openly rebel against his rule. Weaker in warriors and support prince calls for help from his German allies and a civil war rages. Finally Chwostek and his allies are defeated, he and his family die during the siege of his keep, and clans and free farmers elect a new ruler, Piast the Wheelwright. The second theme of the novel, in addition to political, is the thread of love. Doman, a young but wealthy farmer and warrior, falls in love with beautiful Dziwa. She, however, believes that her calling is to serve the pagan gods, and therefore refuses to become his wife. Doman decides to do anything to win her love.

Adaptations

The novel has been a subject of many addaptions:

In 1891 Alfred Szczepański published a drama in 5 parts based on the themes of "Stara baśn" titled "Piast Pierwszy" (Piast I) in Vienna, Austria,
In 1900 Julian Baczyński publishe, in Chełmno, his book "Królewna Hoża" (Princess Buxom) inspired by the Kraszewski's novel.
In 1907 roku Władysław Żeleński brought to the Lviv's stage his opera titled "Stara baśń" (An Ancient Tale) based on Kraszewski's work.
In 2003 story was adapted for the screen by the film director Jerzy Hoffman as An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God.

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 The content of the novel refers to old Polish stories and legends, including a cruel ruler prince [[Popiel]] who is one of the main characters in it, but the author calls him Chwostek. The story takes place during pre-historic times, in the lands of the [[pagan]][[Polans (western)| Polans]] tribe.
-The first theme of the novel is the political struggle  between Chwostek and his wife Brunhilda, and their court, against the [[clan]]s and free farmers. Prince wants to introduce an absolute rule based on the [[Holy Roman Emperor]]'s exmaple  while his subjects want to preserve their freedoms. As the struggle intensifies prince commits more and more cruel acts (mutilations, murders etc) causing his subjects to openly rebel against his rule. Weaker in warriors and support prince calls for help from his German allies and a civil war rages. Finally Chwostek and his allies are defeated, he and his family die during the siege of his keep, and clans and free farmers elect a new ruler, [[Piast the Wheelwright]].
+The first theme of the novel is the political struggle  between Chwostek and his wife Brunhilda, and their court, against the [[clan]]s and free farmers. Prince wants to introduce an absolute rule based on the [[Holy Roman Emperor]]'s example  while his subjects want to preserve their freedoms. As the struggle intensifies prince commits more and more cruel acts (mutilations, murders etc.) causing his subjects to openly rebel against his rule. Weaker in warriors and support prince calls for help from his German allies and a civil war rages. Finally Chwostek and his allies are defeated, he and his family die during the siege of his keep, and clans and free farmers elect a new ruler, [[Piast the Wheelwright]].
 The second theme of the novel, in addition to political, is the thread of love. Doman, a young but wealthy farmer and warrior, falls in love with beautiful Dziwa. She, however, believes that her calling is to serve the pagan gods, and therefore refuses to become his wife. Doman decides to do anything to win her love.

Revision as of 22:47, 2 October 2013

Adaptations

See also