Paulin Święcicki
Encyclopedia
Paulin Święcicki was a Polish
writer, journalist, playwright and translator. Active in Austro-Hungarian Galicia, he was one of key figures in Ukrainian
national revival
. He is mostly known as a founder and editor-in-chief of a Polish-Ukrainian Sioło monthly. His fascination with Ukrainian folk lore also earned him the title of a precursor of the chłopomania
trend in Galician culture of late 19th century.
Born in Warszycia
near Vinnytsia
in what was then part of the Russian Empire
, he was an heir to an old family of lesser szlachta
, or Polish landed gentry. He graduated from a prestigious college at Kamieniec Podolski and then the Kiev University
. Although a Pole by birth, early in his youth he became interested in Ukrainian language, culture and folk traditions. Following the crushing of the January Uprising
of 1863 he fled from Russian repressions to Austro-Hungarian
Galicia and settled in its capital city of Lwów (modern L'viv, Ukraine). In contrast to the Russian-held part of partitioned Poland
, in Galicia neither Polish nor Ukrainian languages were being suppressed or banned. Thanks to that Święcicki could devote himself to extensive studies of Ukrainian language and also became a teacher at one of local Ukrainian colleges.
A fan of Taras Shevchenko
's poetry since his student years, Święcicki became one of the first to translate his poems to Polish language. Already in 1864 Święcicki started working for the local Ukrainian Theatre. He wrote numerous Ukrainian-language fables and dramas. He also tried to fill in the cultural gap in Ukrainian culture by translating to that language many foreign screenplays, notably Shakespeare's Hamlet
and Józef Konrad's Cyganie (Gypsies).
Also in 1864 he founded the Sioło journal. A social, literary and historical magazine, Sioło was published in both Polish and Ukrainian. The journal promoted the idea of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation, promotion of Ukrainian culture and fight for freedom of the Ukrainians (whose culture and language were at that time considered by the tsarist authorities to be Lesser Russian, that is but a sub-group of the Russian nation
). The magazine also published also historical documents, notably the Nestor's Chronicle
. Although Sioło existed only for four years (until 1867), it was highly influential in promotion of Ukrainian national revival, notably among the intelligentsia
of Lwów, at that time one of the major academic centres of Central Europe.
In later years he published three novels in both Polish and Ukrainian versions: Przed laty, Opowieści stepowe and Wspomnienia. According to Serhiy Yefremov
, Święcicki's treatise on Ukrainian literature in 19th century is considered to be the first review of modern Ukrainian language literature. However, it were his Ukrainian language fables that earned him his name in contemporary literature.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
writer, journalist, playwright and translator. Active in Austro-Hungarian Galicia, he was one of key figures in Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
national revival
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
. He is mostly known as a founder and editor-in-chief of a Polish-Ukrainian Sioło monthly. His fascination with Ukrainian folk lore also earned him the title of a precursor of the chłopomania
Chłopomania
Chłopomania is a Polish portmanteau of a Polish language word for a peasant and mania, the equivalent for the Ukrainian language Khlopomanstvo . As a historical and literary term, inspired by the Young Poland modernist movement, it refers specifically to late 19th century Galician intelligentsia's...
trend in Galician culture of late 19th century.
Born in Warszycia
Kalynivka
Kalynivka is a city in Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine. Population is 20,061 ....
near Vinnytsia
Vinnytsia
Vinnytsia is a city located on the banks of the Southern Bug, in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Vinnytsia Oblast.-Names:...
in what was then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, he was an heir to an old family of lesser szlachta
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
, or Polish landed gentry. He graduated from a prestigious college at Kamieniec Podolski and then the Kiev University
Kiev University
Taras Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv , colloquially known in Ukrainian as KNU is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. It is the third oldest university in Ukraine after the University of Lviv and Kharkiv University. Currently, its structure...
. Although a Pole by birth, early in his youth he became interested in Ukrainian language, culture and folk traditions. Following the crushing of the January Uprising
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
of 1863 he fled from Russian repressions to Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
Galicia and settled in its capital city of Lwów (modern L'viv, Ukraine). In contrast to the Russian-held part of partitioned Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
, in Galicia neither Polish nor Ukrainian languages were being suppressed or banned. Thanks to that Święcicki could devote himself to extensive studies of Ukrainian language and also became a teacher at one of local Ukrainian colleges.
A fan of Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
's poetry since his student years, Święcicki became one of the first to translate his poems to Polish language. Already in 1864 Święcicki started working for the local Ukrainian Theatre. He wrote numerous Ukrainian-language fables and dramas. He also tried to fill in the cultural gap in Ukrainian culture by translating to that language many foreign screenplays, notably Shakespeare's Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
and Józef Konrad's Cyganie (Gypsies).
Also in 1864 he founded the Sioło journal. A social, literary and historical magazine, Sioło was published in both Polish and Ukrainian. The journal promoted the idea of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation, promotion of Ukrainian culture and fight for freedom of the Ukrainians (whose culture and language were at that time considered by the tsarist authorities to be Lesser Russian, that is but a sub-group of the Russian nation
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
). The magazine also published also historical documents, notably the Nestor's Chronicle
Primary Chronicle
The Primary Chronicle , Ruthenian Primary Chronicle or Russian Primary Chronicle, is a history of Kievan Rus' from about 850 to 1110, originally compiled in Kiev about 1113.- Three editions :...
. Although Sioło existed only for four years (until 1867), it was highly influential in promotion of Ukrainian national revival, notably among the intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
of Lwów, at that time one of the major academic centres of Central Europe.
In later years he published three novels in both Polish and Ukrainian versions: Przed laty, Opowieści stepowe and Wspomnienia. According to Serhiy Yefremov
Serhiy Yefremov
Serhiy Yefremov was a Ukrainian literary journalist, historian, critic, political activist, statesman, and academician. He was a member of the Ukrainian Academy of Science and Shevchenko Scientific Society in Lviv...
, Święcicki's treatise on Ukrainian literature in 19th century is considered to be the first review of modern Ukrainian language literature. However, it were his Ukrainian language fables that earned him his name in contemporary literature.