Recognition Henryk Sienkiewicz

statue of author of quo vadis, near villa borghese in rome

about turn of 20th century, sienkiewicz popular writer in poland, , 1 of popular in germany, france, russia, , english-speaking world. trilogy went through many translations; fire , sword saw @ least 26 in lifetime. quo vadis became extremely popular, in @ least 40 different language translations, including english-language editions totaling million copies. american translator jeremiah curtin has been credited helping popularize works abroad. however, russia (of sienkiewicz citizen) not signatory berne convention, received royalties translations.

already in lifetime works adapted theatrical, operatic , musical presentations , emerging film industry. writers , poets devoted works him, or used him or works inspiration. painters created works inspired sienkiewicz s novels, , works gathered in sienkiewicz-themed albums , exhibitions. names of characters given variety of products. popularity of quo vadis in france, best-selling book of 1900, shown fact horses competing in grand prix de paris event named characters in book. in united states, quo vadis sold 800,000 copies in eighteen months. avoid intrusive journalists , fans, sienkiewicz traveled incognito.

he inducted many international organizations , societies, including polish academy of learning, russian academy of sciences, serbian academy of sciences , arts, royal czech society of sciences, , italian academy of arcadia. received french légion d honneur (1904) ; honorary doctorates jagiellonian university (1900) , lwów university (1911), , honorary citizenship of lwów (1902). in 1905 received prestigious award in world of literature, nobel prize, after having been nominated in year hans hildebrand, member of swedish academy.

named sienkiewicz, in poland, numerous streets , squares (the first street bear name in lwów, in 1907). named him białystok s osiedle sienkiewicza; city parks in wrocław , Łódź; , on 70 schools in poland. has statues in number of polish cities, including warsaw s Łazienki park (the first statue erected @ zbaraż, in ukraine), , in rome sienkiewcz mound stands @ okrzeja, near birthplace, wola okrzejska. has been featured on number of postage stamps.

official poster film quo vadis, 1951

there 3 museums dedicated him in poland. first, henryk sienkiewicz museum in oblęgorek (his residence), opened in 1958. second, founded in 1966, in birthplace: henryk sienkiewicz museum in wola okrzejska. third opened in 1978 @ poznań.

in rome (italy), in small church of domine quo vadis , there bronze bust of henryk sienkiewicz. said sienkiewicz inspired write novel quo vadis while sitting in church.

outside poland, sienkiewicz s popularity declined beginning in interbellum, except quo vadis, retained relative fame several film adaptations, including notable american 1 in 1951. in poland works still read; seen classic author, , works required reading in schools. have been adapted polish films , television series.

the first critical analyses of works published in lifetime. has been subject of number of biographies. works have received criticism, in lifetime , since, being oversimplistic: view expressed notably 20th-century polish novelist , dramatist witold gombrowicz, described sienkiewicz first-rate second-rate writer . nonetheless, polish historian of literature henryk markiewicz, writing polski słownik biograficzny (polish biographical dictionary) entry on sienkiewicz (1997), describes him master of polish prose, foremost polish writer of historical fiction, , poland s internationally best-known writer.