Polish 19th century in the mirror of 21st century literature –meanders of neighbourhood

Abstract

The article discusses various aspects of the presence of the 19th century in recent Polish literature.It shows the transformation of various aspects of the legacy of that century, related toromanticism and modernism. The 19th century, important as the foundation of Polish culture duringthe partitions, turned into a toxic legacy in modern times. Contemporary Polish writers re-imaginethat century to discover stories that were excluded from the mainstream national narrative. The textsunder discussion show that the 19th century is a „neighbour” surprisingly close to our present day.