ALEKSANDER GLOWACKI - BOLESLAW PRUS

Aleksander Glowacki - Boleslaw Prus
Per wikipedia: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boles%C5%82aw_Prus

Childhood and youth

Born in Hrubieszow (exactly Zabeczu, today Zabcze) in the Lublin family of Anthony Glowacki, treasurer of the court, noble roots (his later literary pseudonym Alexander Glowacki drew the name of the ancestral coat of arms Prus I), and mother Trembińska Apolonia. Orphaned at age 3 by his mother, and at the age of 9 by his father, came under the care of his grandmother Marcjanna Trembinska living in Pulawy. After her death, lived with his aunt Domicela Trembińska Olszewska in Lublin, where he attended the School District of Real (for 4 years from the year 1857). Then he found himself in Siedlce (1861) under the care of the older brother of 13 years Leon Glowacki, working as a teacher of history. Together with his brother moved in 1862 to Kielce, where he enrolled in school.

Under the influence of older brother Leon, an activist fraction of “red“, Aleksander Glowacki in 1863, 16 years of age, interrupted his education in high school and took part in the uprising. September 1 was wounded during clashes in the village Bialka, distant about 4 km from Siedlce. He was taken prisoner by the Russians, however, due to young age and through the intercession of his aunt, after leaving the hospital he was allowed to return to Lublin and live with the family. January 10, 1864 was published in the “Sunday Courier“ his poem “The Pegasus”, signed name John in Oil .

January 20, 1864 Glowacki was arrested for taking part in the uprising. From January to April was in prison at the Lublin Castle. Military court deprived him of nobility, and gave him into the care of his uncle Clement Olszewski, because brother Leon Glowacki was suffering from an incurable mental illness. After his release from prison, Alexander continued his studies at school in Lublin, which eventually graduated June 30, 1866 year with excellent grade. He was interested in studying in St. Petersburg, which could not afford due to financial reasons.

So in October, he joined the School in Warsaw at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. In Warsaw, unaided, to earn his studies as a tutor, what is not, however, brought substantial profits. In his spare time he wrote letters to the Christmas Courier, in which still signed name John in Oil. Material difficulties meant that while in the third year he was forced to interrupt his studies (1869). He then moved to Pulawy, where he enrolled at the Faculty of Forestry Institute of Farming and Forestry, however, as early as September 1870 he returned to Warsaw, he came into conflict with one of the Russian professors.

He tried various occupations, through which he could earn a living, was, photographer, a street orator, locksmith factory Lilpopa and Rau. In 1871 he translated and wrote a summary of the work of English philosopher John Stuart Mill‘s Logic. For the first time he tried his abilities as a journalist.

Journalism and belletristic

Coat of arms “Prus“ the debut release of Aleksander Glowacki be considered as set out in 22 issue of the positivist journal Home Guardian “of 29 May 1872 years article our social sins. That same year in the magazine “Niva“ was published his first article popular science about electricity. On the pages of “Home Caretaker“ in 1872 also appeared in columns Glowacki Letters from the old camp, which the author signed first name Boleslaw Prus. Aleksander Glowacki since then decided to use his real name to sign only the major articles.

Glowacki also began working with satirical writings of “Fly“ (since 1873) and “Thorns“ (in 1874), for which he wrote sketches satirize society and many humoresque (the most famous of which is Trouble Grandma and Bric and Brac). Also in “Niwa“ appeared to have his feuilleton current affairs. All publications published in the newspapers, due to the entertaining nature of the article, the author signed the name of Prus.

In the newspaper Warsaw Courier, began to publish travel post cards (columns and reports written during his numerous trips in the country) and the weekly Chronicle that Prus brought the greatest popularity. These articles touched on political, social and moral topics, attracting readers.

Career of columnist in several magazines, which initially treated the secondary way (had a steady job in bank), brought to Prus considerable revenue and provided temporary financial stability. This allowed him to meet plans for marriage. January 14, 1875 Aleksander Glowacki married Octavia Trembinska, a distant cousin of the mother. Wife watched from that time on his health (Prus suffered from agoraphobia - the disease was due to stay in prison). Couple had never their own offspring, and their adopted son Emil at age 18 committed suicide because of unhappy love.

In 1876 Prus began working with the magazine “Athenaeum“ (which he wrote mainly monthly Chronicles), while in 1877 with the weekly “News“. In 1882 he became Editor of the newspaper. Posted on its pages Sketch of the controversial document with the current development of society. At the same time grew more and more of his belletristic activity. In 1879 Prus entered a mature period of his novel work, which lasted until 1885. However, never gave up journalism. In 1881 he became involved with the “Weekly Illustrated, and in 1887 with “the daily Courier.“ Most of his short stories, novellas, and later novel was first published in a newspaper, with whom he has worked.

When in 1883, led by Prus magazine “News“ fell, the writer again hit financial problems. He then devoted himself mainly work on novels. Prus also established a permanent cooperation with issued in St. Petersburg, Polish weekly

“Country“, for which he wrote Correspondence from Warsaw. In 1885, Prus, he met renowned painter Stanislaw Witkiewicz, who was a co-editor of the magazine “The Wanderer.“ Thanks to the knowledge of Witkiewicz, Prus for a short time was connected with the “The Wanderer“, the journal which published several novels and short stories, and the first in Polish literature naturalistic novel - assignment.

Private Life In 1882 Prus for the first time he went on vacation to the spa town of Naleczow. Since then, the town which was his favorite place of rest, which he visited over the next 30 years, or until his death. Today the museum in Naleczow is of Boleslaw Prus, which is a part of the Malachowski Palace.

In 1892, he appeared as a witness at the wedding of Stefan Zeromski with Rodkiewicz Octavia. Prus was a friend of the young couple, whom he met during one of trips to Naleczow, cared for the novice writer.

In 1895, Prus went on his only foreign trip to Germany, Switzerland and France. The writer visited include Berlin, Dresden, Karlsbad, Raperswil (where he met with Zeromski) and Paris.

Last years
Tomb of Boleslaw Prus at Powazki Cemetery in Warsaw. By the end of his life, thanks to a lively journalistic activities (mainly in the years 1904-1905) Prus became a great authority in the public eye. Perceived him as an exemplary representative of attitudes in line with the objectives of community work and utilitarian. By the end of life writer willingly participated in social actions and include sponsorship of many initiatives and projects. He was the guardian of orphans of the Charitable Society, took part in the company anticipating a seminar for teachers in the People‘s Ursynow, was president of the Association of Courses for Adult illiterates. In his will, founded scholarships for talented children from poor rural families. In the last period of life (certainly in 1911) came to rest to Milanowek.

He died of a heart attack at age 64. His funeral, which took place on 22 May 1912, gathered crowds of admirers of the writer‘s talent and turned into a great manifestation of the inhabitants of Warsaw. Prus was buried in the cemetery at Powązki, where the memorial, made by Stanislaw Jackowski, is the inscription “Heart of hearts“.

Creativity
Boleslaw Prus‘s prose works belongs to the greatest achievements of Polish literature. The closest is the work of such writers as Charles Dickens and Anton Chekhov.

Initially, Prus presented the positivist mainstream, then chose a realistic direction.

The theme of his early work was the presentation of social injustice in contrast to the barrenness of life in their closed world of the gentry (souls in bondage, Anielka).

At that time, Prus was a witness to the tragedy of human fate and social injustice, caused in large part of an early capitalism impacting the economy (returning wave). Occurring phenomenon of socio-economy of Prus yielded to his art analysis and evaluation.

His first novel was The facility (1885-1886) - novel initially naturalistic appearing in the journal “Wanderer“. Then it was an epic panorama of contemporary Warsaw in the years 1878-1879 - a novel Lalka (1887-1889 in “The Daily Courier“ published as a book 1890). Prus also wrote a novel socio-moral Emancipated (1890-1893 in “The Daily Courier“ published as a book 1894). In his only historical novel, Pharaoh (1895-1896 in the “Weekly Illustrated“ published as a book 1897) presented, against the background of the history of ancient Egypt, the mechanisms of power, state and society. Pharaoh, as a political novel, was the favorite book of Joseph Stalin, some later readers of the English translation of the fate of its protagonist Ramses XIII recalled the tragic death of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Then in 1909, has yet another novel, Children (1908 in the “Weekly Illustrated“ published as a book 1909), which criticized the Russian Revolution of 1905. The death of the writer stopped working on the last, unfinished novel Transformations (1911-1912 in the “Illustrated Weekly“).

In the years 1953-1970 was published in 21 volumes, edition of the chronicles.
B. Prus monument in Warsaw, in the garden next to the Hotel Bristol
B. Prus monument in his hometown Hrubieszow

MAIL: PRUS@PRUSOWIE.PL

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