Cyprian Norwid and the History of Greece

This book scrutinizes Norwid's fascination with Greek history and culture, especially his peculiar synthesis of Greek thought and Christianity, the relationship of Platonism with early Christian writings and their presence in modern culture, the opposition of memory and history, and the image of the artist and its influence in 19th-c. social life.

Ancient Greek history holds a special place in the works of many 19th-c. writers. The same goes for Cyprian Norwid, one of the most eminent poets in the history of Polish literature, a thinker, and an artist. This book scrutinizes Norwid's fascination with Greek history and culture, especially his peculiar synthesis of Greek thought and Christianity. It focuses on the key themes of the relationship of Platonism with early Christian writings and their presence in Norwid's contemporary culture, the opposition of memory and history in 19th-c. literature and social life, and the image of the artist and its influence on social life in modern everyday. The book analyzes Norwid's oeuvre in a broad comparison with representatives of French, German, and British literature and the humanities.

Autorentext

Maciej Junkiert, Polish philologist and historian of ideas, professor at the Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. His research focuses on relationships of classical philology with literary studies in Poland and Germany, especially in the 19th century.

Inhalt

Norwid and History Hellenism and History Myth of the Greek-Slavic Unity in the Works of Adam Mickiewicz Anecdotes, Notes, and Parallels: Norwid's Views on Greek History Norwid's Christian Platonism: About Quidam Greeks in Alexandria: Memory and History in Kleopatra i Cezar Athens and Sparta in Norwid's Tyrtej