Life Henryk Sienkiewicz

1 life

1.1 life
1.2 travels abroad
1.3 return poland
1.4 later years
1.5 death

life
early life

sienkiewicz born on 5 may 1846 in wola okrzejska, village in central part of eastern polish region of lubelskie, part of russian empire. family impoverished polish nobles, on father s side deriving tatars had settled in grand duchy of lithuania. parents józef sienkiewicz (1813–96) , stefania, née cieciszowska (1820–73). had 5 siblings: older brother, kazimierz (died during january uprising), , 4 sisters, aniela, helena, zofia , maria. family entitled use polish oszyk coat of arms. wola okrzejska belonged writer s maternal grandmother, felicjana cieciszowska. family moved several times, , young henryk spent childhood on family estates in grabowce górne, wężyczyn , burzec. in september 1858 began education in warsaw, family settle in 1861, having bought tenement house (kamienica) in eastern warsaw s praga district. received relatively poor school grades except in humanities, notably polish language , history.

monument atop sienkiewicz mound @ okrzeja. @ left writer s family s village, wola okrzejska, born.

due hard times, 19-year-old sienkiewicz took job tutor weyher family in płońsk. in period wrote first novel, ofiara (sacrifice); thought have destroyed manuscript of never-published novel. worked on first novel published, na marne (in vain). completed extramural secondary-school classes, , in 1866 received secondary-school diploma. first tried study medicine, law, @ imperial university of warsaw, transferred university s institute of philology , history, acquired thorough knowledge of literature , old polish language. little known period of life, other moved out of parents home, tutored part-time, , lived in poverty. situation improved in 1868 when became tutor princely woroniecki family.

in 1867 wrote rhymed piece, sielanka młodości ( idyll of youth ), rejected tygodnik ilustrowany (the illustrated weekly). in 1869 debuted journalist; przegląd tygodniowy (1866-1904) (the weekly review) ran review of play on 18 april 1869, , shortly afterward illustrated weekly printed essay of late-renaissance polish poet mikołaj sęp szarzyński. completed university studies in 1871, though failed receive diploma because did not pass examination in greek language. sienkiewicz wrote gazeta polska (the polish gazette) , niwa (magazine), under pen name litwos . in 1873 began writing column, bez tytułu ( without title ), in polish gazette; in 1874 column, sprawy bieżące ( current matters ) niwa; , in 1875 column, chwila obecna ( present moment ). collaborated on polish translation, published in 1874, of victor hugo s last novel, ninety-three. in june year, became co-owner of niwa (in 1878, sell share in magazine).

meanwhile, in 1872, had debuted fiction writer short novel na marne (in vain), published in magazine wieniec (magazine) (garland). followed humoreski z teki woroszyłły (humorous sketches woroszyłła s files, 1872), stary sługa (the old servant, 1875), hania (sienkiewicz) (1876) , selim mirza (1877). last 3 known little trilogy . these publications made him prominent figure in warsaw s journalistic-literary world, , guest @ popular dinner parties hosted actress helena modrzejewska.

travels abroad

sienkiewicz in safari outfit, 1890s

in 1874 sienkiewicz briefly engaged maria keller, , traveled abroad brussels , paris. after returned, fiancée s parents cancelled engagement. in 1876 sienkiewicz went united states helena modrzejewska (soon become famous in u.s. actress helena modjeska) , husband. traveled via london new york , on san francisco, staying time in california. travels financed gazeta polska (the polish gazette) in exchange series of travel essays: sienkiewicz wrote listy z podróży (letters journey) , listy litwosa z podróży (litwos letters journey), published in polish gazette in 1876–78 , republished book in 1880. other articles him appeared in przegląd tygodniowy (the weekly review) , przewodnik naukowy literacki (the learned , literary guide), discussing situation of american polonia. briefly lived in town of anaheim, later in anaheim landing (now seal beach, california). hunted, visited native american camps, traveled in nearby mountains (the santa ana, sierra madre, san jacinto, , san bernardino mountains), , visited mojave desert, yosemite valley, , silver mines @ virginia city, nevada. on 20 august 1877 witnessed modjeska s u.s. theatrical debut @ san francisco s california theatre, reviewed polish gazette; , on 8 september published in daily evening post article, translated english him modjeska, on poland , russia .

in america continued writing fiction, in 1877 publishing szkice węglem (charcoal sketches) in polish gazette. wrote play, na przebój, retitled na jedną kartę (on single card), later staged @ lviv (1879) and, better reception, @ warsaw (1881). wrote play modjeska, aimed @ american public, z walki tutejszych partii (partisan struggles), never performed or published, , manuscript appears lost.

on 24 march 1878 sienkiewicz left u.s. europe. first stayed in london, year in paris, delaying return poland due rumors of possible conscription imperial russian army on eve of predicted new war turkey.

return poland

portrait of sienkiewicz kazimierz mordasewicz, 1899

in april 1879 sienkiewicz returned polish soil. in lviv (lwów) gave lecture not attended: z nowego jorku kalifornii ( new york california ). subsequent lectures in szczawnica , krynica in july–august year, , in warsaw , poznań following year, more successful. in late summer 1879 went venice , rome, toured next few weeks, on 7 november 1879 returning warsaw. there met maria szetkiewicz, whom married on 18 august 1881. marriage reportedly happy one. couple had 2 children, henryk józef (1882–1959) , jadwiga maria (1883–1969). short-lived marriage, however, because on 18 august 1885 maria died of tuberculosis.

in 1879 first collected edition of sienkiewicz s works published, in 4 volumes; series continue 1917, ending total of 17 volumes. continued writing journalistic pieces, in polish gazette , niwa. in 1881 published favorable review of first collected edition of works bolesław prus.

in 1880 sienkiewicz wrote historical novella, niewola tatarska (tartar captivity). in late 1881 became editor-in-chief of new warsaw newspaper, słowo (the word). substantially improved finances. year 1882 saw him heavily engaged in running of newspaper, in published number of columns , short stories. soon, however, lost interest in journalistic aspect , decided focus more on literary work. paid less , less attention post of editor-in-chief, resigning in 1887 remaining editor of paper s literary section until 1892.

from 1883 increasingly shifted focus short pieces historical novels. began work on historical novel, ogniem mieczem (with fire , sword). titled wilcze gniazdo (the wolf s lair), appeared in serial installments in word may 1883 march 1884. ran concurrently in kraków newspaper, czas (time).

sienkiewicz began writing second volume of trilogy, potop (the deluge). ran in word december 1884 september 1886. beginning in 1884, sienkiewicz accompanied wife maria foreign sanatoriums. after death, kept on traveling europe, leaving children late wife s parents, though returned poland, particularly staying long periods in warsaw , kraków beginning in 1890s. after return warsaw in 1887, third volume of trilogy appeared – pan wołodyjowski (sir michael) – running in word may 1887 may 1888. trilogy established sienkiewicz popular contemporary polish writer.

sienkiewicz received 15,000 rubles, in recognition of achievements, unknown admirer signed himself michał wołodyjowski after trilogy character. sienkiewicz used money set fund, named wife , supervised academy of learning, aid artists endangered tuberculosis.

in 1886, visited istanbul; in 1888, spain. @ end of 1890 went africa, resulting in listy z afryki (letters africa, published in word in 1891–92, collected book in 1893). turn of 1880s , 1890s associated intensive work on several novels. in 1891 novel without dogma (bez dogmatu), serialized in 1889–90 in word, published in book form. in 1892 sienkiewicz signed agreement novel, rodzina połanieckich (children of soil), serialized in polish gazette 1893 , came out in book form in 1894.

later years

sienkiewicz had several romances, , in 1892 maria romanowska-wołodkowicz, stepdaughter of wealthy odessan, entered life. , romanowska became engaged there in 1893 , married in kraków on 11 november. 2 weeks later, however, bride left him; sienkiewicz blamed in-law intrigues . on 13 december 1895 obtained papal consent dissolution of marriage. in 1904 married niece, maria babska.

sienkiewicz used growing international fame influence world opinion in favor of polish cause (throughout life , since late 18th century, poland remained partitioned neighbors, russia, austria , prussia, later germany). criticized german policies of germanization of polish minority in germany; in 1901 expressed support of września schoolchildren protesting banning of polish language. more cautiously, called on russia s government introduce reforms in russian-controlled congress poland. during revolution in kingdom of poland, advocated broader polish autonomy within russian empire.

nobel laureate, 1905

sienkiewicz maintained ties polish right-wing national democracy politicians , critical of socialists, moderate , declined become politician , deputy russian duma. in cultural sphere, involved in creation of kraków , warsaw monuments adam mickiewicz. supported educational endeavors , co-founded polska macierz szkolna organization. reasonably wealthy 1908 sales of books, used new wealth support struggling writers. helped gather funds social-welfare projects such starvation relief, , construction of tuberculosis sanatorium @ zakopane. prominent in philanthropy in literature.

in february 1895 wrote first chapters of quo vadis. novel serialized, beginning in march 1895, in warsaw s polish gazette, kraków s czas (time), , poznań s dziennik poznański (poznań daily). novel finished march 1896. book edition appeared later same year, , gained international renown. in february 1897 began serializing new novel, krzyżacy (the teutonic knights, or knights of cross); serialization finished in 1900, , book edition appeared year.

in 1900, three-year delay due approaching centenary of mickiewicz s birth, sienkiewicz celebrated own quarter-century, begun in 1872, writer. special events held in number of polish cities, including kraków, lwów , poznań. jubilee committee presented him gift polish people: estate @ oblęgorek, near kielce, later opened school children.

in 1905 won nobel prize lifetime achievements epic writer. in acceptance speech, said honor of particular value son of poland: pronounced dead — yet here proof lives on.... pronounced defeated — , here proof victorious.

sienkiewicz s residence @ oblęgorek

his social , political activities resulted in diminished literary output. wrote new historical novel, na polu chwały (on field of glory), meant beginning of new trilogy; was, however, criticized being lesser version of original trilogy, , never continued. similarly, contemporary novel wiry whirlpool (novel), 1910, sought criticize of sienkiewicz s political opponents, received polemical , politicized response. 1910 novel young people, w pustyni w puszczy (in desert , wilderness), serialized in kurier warszawski (the warsaw courier), finishing in 1911, better received , became popular among children , young adults.

after outbreak of world war i, sienkiewicz visited @ oblęgorek polish legions cavalry unit under bolesław wieniawa-długoszowski. after, left switzerland. ignacy paderewski , erazm piltz, established organization polish war relief. supported work of red cross. otherwise, eschewed politics, through shortly before death endorsed act of 5th november 1916, declaration emperors wilhelm ii of germany , franz joseph of austria , king of hungary, pledging creation of kingdom of poland envisioned puppet state allied with, , controlled by, central powers.

death

sienkiewicz s tomb, st. john s cathedral, warsaw

sienkiewicz died on 15 november 1916, @ grand hotel du lac in vevey, switzerland, buried on 22 november. cause of death ischemic heart disease. funeral attended representatives of both central powers , entente, , address pope benedict xv read.

in 1924, after poland had regained independence, sienkiewicz s remains repatriated warsaw, poland, , placed in crypt of st. john s cathedral. during coffin s transit, solemn memorial ceremonies held in number of cities. thousands accompanied coffin warsaw resting place, , poland s president stanisław wojciechowski delivered eulogy.