Wladyslaw Orkan
Encyclopedia
Władysław Orkan (actually born as Franciszek Ksawery Smaciarz, changed surname
to Smreczyński, but primarily known under his pen name
, Orkan) was a Polish
writer from the Young Poland
period. He is known as one of the greatest Polish writers from Podhale
region and Górale
folk; most famous of his works portray the common people from that region.
as Franciszek Ksawery Smaciarz, he attended the elementary school
in Szczyrzyc
. He started publishing while in the fourth grade; he also joined many extracurricular clubs and organization, including pro-Polish independence ones. Due to his involvement in such activities, his grades suffered, and he never passed the matura
exam. He returned to Poręba village, and continued writing. He debuted in 1896 with a publication of a poem, patriotic poem Nad grobem matki and several satirical verses. In 1898 he published his first work, collection of short stories, Nowele; that year he also changed his surname
in to Smreczyński. He published more works soon thereafter: another collection short stories Nad urwiskiem in 1900, a novel Komornicy (1900), drama Postronni (1903), a verse volume Z tej smutnej ziemi (1903), novel W roztokach (1908) and others.
In early 1900s he started construction of a new house; the same building would later become the Biographical Museum of Władysław Orkan (Muzeum Biograficzne Władysława Orkana or Orkanówka for short). At that time he also married Maria Zwierzyńska, they would have one child, Zofia. Maria would die three years after giving childbirth, Władysław Orkan, always troubled with finances, would ask his sister to raise his daughter. He would later marry Bronisława Folejewska. During those years he also travelled to Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
During the First World War he joined the Polish Legions
(4th Regiment). For most of his life he stayed in Poręba village. In addition to writing, he was also an activist for the region, cofounder and member of Podhale Association (Tatras Highlanders Union, 1918) and supporter of peasants’ movement. After the war, he continued to write; particularly notable are lyrical poems constituting a cycle Pochwała życia, the drama Widma (1917–1927), the novel Czantoria (1928–1929) and his articles and essays Listy ze wsi (1925–1927). He died in Kraków
; shortly before he could collect the 1930 City of Warsaw
’s Award for Literature. He is buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery
, but next year he was exhumed and moved to a Remembrance Cemetery at Pęksowy Brzyzk, Zakopane
.
After his death, many regional organisations were set up under his name, to commemorate his contribution to the culture and prestige of the Podhale
region.
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
to Smreczyński, but primarily known under his pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
, Orkan) was a Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
writer from the Young Poland
Young Poland
Young Poland is a modernist period in Polish visual arts, literature and music, covering roughly the years between 1890 and 1918. It was a result of strong aesthetic opposition to the ideas of Positivism...
period. He is known as one of the greatest Polish writers from Podhale
Podhale
The Podhale is Poland's most southern region, sometimes referred to as the "Polish highlands". The Podhale is located in the foothills of the Tatra range of the Carpathian mountains, and is characterized by a rich tradition of folklore that is much romanticized in the Polish patriotic imagination...
region and Górale
Górale
Górale may refer to:*Gorals, a group of people indigenous to Polish, Czech and Slovak mountain areas*Górale, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Górale, Łódź Voivodeship...
folk; most famous of his works portray the common people from that region.
Biography
Born in Poręba Wielka, Limanowa CountyPoreba Wielka, Limanowa County
Poręba Wielka is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Niedźwiedź, within Limanowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately west of Niedźwiedź, west of Limanowa, and south of the regional capital Kraków....
as Franciszek Ksawery Smaciarz, he attended the elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
in Szczyrzyc
Szczyrzyc
Szczyrzyc is a village in Poland, located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Limanowa County, Jodłownik Commune. Geographically it is located in the Beskid Wyspowy, in the Stradomka river valley...
. He started publishing while in the fourth grade; he also joined many extracurricular clubs and organization, including pro-Polish independence ones. Due to his involvement in such activities, his grades suffered, and he never passed the matura
Matura
Matura or a similar term is the common name for the high-school leaving exam or "maturity exam" in various countries, including Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia,...
exam. He returned to Poręba village, and continued writing. He debuted in 1896 with a publication of a poem, patriotic poem Nad grobem matki and several satirical verses. In 1898 he published his first work, collection of short stories, Nowele; that year he also changed his surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
in to Smreczyński. He published more works soon thereafter: another collection short stories Nad urwiskiem in 1900, a novel Komornicy (1900), drama Postronni (1903), a verse volume Z tej smutnej ziemi (1903), novel W roztokach (1908) and others.
In early 1900s he started construction of a new house; the same building would later become the Biographical Museum of Władysław Orkan (Muzeum Biograficzne Władysława Orkana or Orkanówka for short). At that time he also married Maria Zwierzyńska, they would have one child, Zofia. Maria would die three years after giving childbirth, Władysław Orkan, always troubled with finances, would ask his sister to raise his daughter. He would later marry Bronisława Folejewska. During those years he also travelled to Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
During the First World War he joined the Polish Legions
Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army...
(4th Regiment). For most of his life he stayed in Poręba village. In addition to writing, he was also an activist for the region, cofounder and member of Podhale Association (Tatras Highlanders Union, 1918) and supporter of peasants’ movement. After the war, he continued to write; particularly notable are lyrical poems constituting a cycle Pochwała życia, the drama Widma (1917–1927), the novel Czantoria (1928–1929) and his articles and essays Listy ze wsi (1925–1927). He died in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
; shortly before he could collect the 1930 City of Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
’s Award for Literature. He is buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery
Rakowicki Cemetery
Rakowicki Cemetery is one of the best known cemeteries of Poland, located in the centre of Kraków. It lies within the Administrative District No. 1 Stare Miasto meaning "Old Town" – not to be confused with the historic Kraków Old Town further west...
, but next year he was exhumed and moved to a Remembrance Cemetery at Pęksowy Brzyzk, Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
.
After his death, many regional organisations were set up under his name, to commemorate his contribution to the culture and prestige of the Podhale
Podhale
The Podhale is Poland's most southern region, sometimes referred to as the "Polish highlands". The Podhale is located in the foothills of the Tatra range of the Carpathian mountains, and is characterized by a rich tradition of folklore that is much romanticized in the Polish patriotic imagination...
region.
Works
One of the most common image in his works was the poor Polish village. However his works contain other images as well, for example descriptions of mountain countryside and nature, and humorous elements. His early works were inspired by Stanisław Witkiewicz.Poetry
- Nad grobem Matki. Dumania. Kraków 1896
- Z tej smutnej ziemi. Lwów 1903
- Z martwej roztoki. Kraków 1912
- Pieśni czasu. Piotrków 1915
Dramas
- Skapany świat. Dramat w czterech aktach z epilogiem. Lwów 1903
- Ofiara. Fragment w trzech aktach z r.1846. Kraków 1905
- Wina i kara. Tragedia. Kraków 1905
- Franek Rakoczy. Epilog w trzech aktach. Lwów 1908
Short stories
- Nowele. Warszawa 1898
- Nad urwiskiem. Szkice i obrazki. Lwów 1900
- Herkules nowożytny i inne wesołe rzeczy. Kraków 1905
- Miłość pasterska. Nowele. Lwów 1908
- Wesele Prometeusza. Warszawa 1921
Novels
- Komornicy. Lwów 1900
- W roztokach (tom I i II). Lwów 1903
- Pomór. Kraków 1910
- Drzewiej. Kraków 1912
- Kostka Napierski. Warszawa 1925
Non-fiction
- Drogą Czwartaków. Od Ostrowca na Litwę. Kraków 1916
- Listy ze wsi (tom I i II). Warszawa 1925-1927
- Warta. Studia, listy, szkice. Lwów 1926
- Wskazania. Warszawa 1930
Further reading
- Stanisław Pigoń, Władysław Orkan. Twórca i dzieło, Kraków 1958
- Józef Dużyk, Władysław Orkan, Kraków 1975
- Julian Krzyżanowski, Pieśniarz krainy kęp i wiecznej nędzy. Rzecz o Władysławie Orkanie, Zakopane 1927
- Bolesław Faron, Władysław Orkan, Kraków 2004, in Literatura okresu Młodej Polski. ‘Obraz Literatury Polskiej XIX i XX wieku’. S. V. vol. 3. Cracow: Wydawnictwo Literackie. pp. 83-13
- Włodarczyk, J. 2003. Orkan Władysław. In: Słownik Pisarzy Polskich. Ed. A. Latusek. Cracow: Wydawnictwo Zielona Sowa. p. 372.
- Puchalska, M. 1985. Orkan Władysław. In: Literatura polska. Przewodnik encyklopedyczny. Eds. J. Krzyżanowski and Cz. Hernas. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe. vol. 2. pp. 110–111.
- Wiktor Weintraub, Review of Pigon's book, American Slavic and East European Review, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Dec., 1958), pp. 576–578, JSTOR