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The Lighthouse Keeper (novel)
[edit]
 Henryk Sienkiewicz, the author of novel | |
| Author | Henryk Sienkiewicz |
|---|---|
| Language | Polish |
| Genre | Novel, fiction |
| Publisher | Gebethner and Wolff |
Publication date | 1883 |
| Publication place | Poland |
For other uses, see Lighthouse Keepers.
The Lighthouse Keeper (Polish: Latarnik, also translated in English to The Lighthouse Keeper of Aspinwall) — a novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz, printed for the first time in the polish newspaper Niwa in 1881[1]. The novel is recognised to be one of the best polish works.
Origin
[edit]In 1874 Henryk Sienkiewicz started a literature section in the "Niwa" newspaper. Two years later, he travelled with a group of friends to the United States. It wasn't something popular during those times, but Sienkiewicz kept corresponding with the Niwa, at the same time publishing some of his works in "Gazeta Polska" (The Polish Gazette), who sponsored his travel. Although the novel was written during his stay in the United States, it was published after returning to Europe in 1881. Sienkiewicz himself wrote about a novel in the author footnotes: This story is based on a real accident, about which Julian Horain wrote in one of his correspondences from America.[2] The inspiration for the main character was a polish man named Siellawa. He was fired after the negligence of lighthouse keeper duties on account of reading the Murdelio by Zygmunt Kaczkowski.
Plot
[edit]The novel shares the short story of a Polish man called Skawiński, who arrived to Aspinwall to take the lighthouse keeper's job. He was tired of a life full of adventures. After participating in the uprising, he had to leave Poland and travel around the world, many times risking his life. He wanted something peaceful for old age and finally chose Aspinwall, where he could begin his quiet life. He was thinking a lot about his past but never neglected any of his duties. He rarely left the lighthouse, where he enjoyed the peace he finally had. One time, with a box of food he was getting, he also got a pack of books, including the Pan Tadeusz (Master Tadeus) by Adam Mickiewicz. He began reading and got utterly lost in the lecture. He forgot where he was, feeling nostalgic after his motherland. In the morning, he was informed that he didn't turn on the lighthouse, which caused a ship to crash. He got fired and once again had to begin his wandering around the world; this time, with a piece of his homeland.
Characters
[edit]- Skawiński - the main character; a Polish man. His first name was never said, neither in the novel nor by the author. He participated in, among other things, November Uprising and Civil War.
- Izaak Falconbridge - consul of the United States in Panama.
- Johns - a port guard who came by boat every day to bring food for Skawiński.
Movie
[edit]In 1976 was filmed a Polish television film being an adaptation of the story. The film is not a strict image of the novel, as it has a lot of additional scenes about Skawiński's youth or future beings. Photos were made in Łódź and Świnoujście. Skawiński was played by Józef Pieracki.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Henryk Adam Sienkiewicz". www.ipsb.nina.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2021-01-27.
- ^ "Henryk Sienkiewicz, Latarnik :: Wolne Lektury". wolnelektury.pl. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ Latarnik (in Polish), retrieved 2021-02-24