The Enlightenment inspired the Polish post-war authors to create thriller fables in different ways: first of all, there were attempts to literary work out authentic histories, then some authors “revealed” alleged inside stories of real events, finally some stories presented completely fictional episodes set in the realities of Polish, sometimes also European, Age of Enlightenment. The vision of the epoque, based on historical sources and studies, is most often rather stereotypical and illustrative in character, but nothing else should be expected in the popular literature. If there are any attempts to revise the view of that times, they refer only to the traditions of popular literature as well (like in the novel “Choć nas potępiają umysły zacięte...” written by Jerzy Siewierski, which clearly refers polemically to Aleksander Dumas’s “Diaries of a Doctor”). Except historical studies, diaries and other sources, also the literature of the Enlightenment is used in different ways. There are quotes or crypto-quotes in the plot, characters often read books that were popular in that times, we can also recognize features of some characters as typical for satire, comedy or novel of the Enlightenment Ages. Sometimes the narrative-fictional patterns of the eighteenthcentury novel are used as literary allusion. However, the most interesting works are the ones in which authors managed not only to compare a sensational, spy or criminal episode to the realities of the epoque, but also make elements of “the Spirit of the Enlightenment” an integral part of that plot. It is especially visible in the novels of Siewierski’s or Jerzy Piechowski’s.
The article deals with issues related to the mystery novel-a genre now forgotten but in 19th century one that was the most known genre of popular literature. The basis of the article is the analysis of the genre archetype-Mysteries of Paris-written by Eugene Sue. The author identifies the inspirations for this type of novel, its genre features (new hero models, new locations of events, an unusual way of presenting reality, the phenomenon of initiation). An analyis of the modern city is also included, as a new space of novel’s plot. The author also reflects on how mystery novels, even called revolutionary novels, influenced the society of the nineteenth century.
PL
Artykuł podejmuje problematykę związaną z powieścią tajemnic – zapomnianym już dzisiaj gatunkiem, który zdominował rynek literacki w XIX wieku. Podstawą artykułu jest analiza archetypu gatunkowego, czyli Tajemnic Paryża Eugeniusza Sue. Autorka określa inspiracje tego typu powieściowego, jego cechy gatunkowe (nowi bohaterowie, nowe miejsca zdarzeń, nietypowy sposób prezentowania rzeczywistości, zjawisko inicjacji). Analizie poddane zostaje również nowoczesne miasto, które jest nową przestrzenią powieściowych zdarzeń. W tym artykule autorka zastanawia się również nad tym, jak powieści tajemnic, nazywane nawet powieściami rewolucyjnymi, oddziaływały na społeczeństwo XIX wieku.
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