Works Henryk Sienkiewicz

sienkiewicz s family coat-of-arms, oszyk, variant of Łabędź (swan) coat-of-arms.

sienkiewicz s without dogma (bez dogmatu, 1889–90) notable artistic experiment, self-analytical novel written fictitious diary. works of period critical of decadent , naturalistic philosophies. had expressed opinions on naturalism , writing, generally, on in o naturaliźmie w powieści ( naturalism in novel , 1881). dozen years later, in 1893, wrote novels should strengthen , ennoble life, rather undermining , debasing it. later, in 1900s, fell mutual hostility young poland movement in polish literature.

these views informed novel quo vadis (1896). story of christianity in rome, protagonists struggling against emperor nero s regime, draws parallels between repressed christians , contemporary poles; and, due focus on christianity, became popular in christian west. triumph of spiritual christianity on materialist rome critique of materialism , decadence, , allegory strength of polish spirit.

his teutonic knights returned poland s history. describing battle of grunwald (1410), polish-lithuanian victory on germans in polish-lithuanian-teutonic war, book had substantial contemporary political context in ongoing germanization efforts (kulturkampf) in german poland. book became sienkiewicz bestseller in poland, , received critics better trilogy had been; applauded polish right-wing, anti-german national democracy political movement, , became part of polish school curriculum after poland regained independence in 1918.

it incorrectly asserted sienkiewicz received nobel prize quo vadis. while quo vadis novel brought him international fame, nobel prize not name particular novel, instead citing outstanding merits epic writer .

sienkiewicz carried out substantial historic research novels, selective in findings made novels. thus, example, prioritized polish military victories on defeats.

sienkiewicz kept diary, has been lost.