Brzozowski - Norwid. Essays

Abstract

Eliza Kącka’s book that the present article is devoted to, concerning the reception of Cyprian Norwid in Stanisław Brzozowski’s writings, is a significant publication, a necessary one in historical-literary studies. It is not easy reading, and the methodological strategy chosen by the author, not shunning eclectic approaches, needlessly complicates fairly lucid and comprehensible exposition of the main subject. It is not clearer in this way, and the reader has to put a lot of effort into understanding the author’s particular research activities. This, however, does not influence the fact that the book Stanisław Brzozowski’s Attitude Towards Cyprian Norwid bridges a serious gap in the studies on the reception of the author of Vade-mecum. In the book Brzozowski is presented as an attentive reader of Norwid’s writings, and at the same time a continuator of his way of thinking about man and history. The critic belonging to the Young Poland movement tried to determine a specific mode of reception based on a deep intellectual, ethical and personal communion that should be created between the author and the reader, anchored in the same axiological space.