The Wendish Research Exchange - Marti, Roland: “Wot Lubina do Błótow?” Jakub Bart-Ćišinski, the Sorbs in Lower Lusatia and Lower Sorbian Liter

Lětopis Abstract 2010 1: Marti, Roland: “Wot Lubina do Błótow?” Jakub Bart-Ćišinski, the Sorbs in Lower Lusatia and Lower Sorbian Literature

Jakub Bart-Ćišinski is considered to be the classical representative of “Sorbian literature.” This implies that he has the same function for the Upper and the Lower Sorbs. Since Bart-Ćišinski wrote exclusively in Upper Sorbian it is only legitimate to raise the question whether he is indeed the representative of “Sorbian literature” as a whole. The article analyses Bart-Ćišinski’s attitude towards the Sorbs as a whole and finds that he indeed stresses the unity of the Sorbian people, i.e. the Lower and the Upper Sorbs. This unity is also stressed with regard to Sorbian literature. A closer analysis reveals, however, that the main (sometimes almost exclusive) emphasis is placed upon Upper Sorbian literature. The perusal of different sources (poetry, journalistic publications, letters) allows for the conclusion that Bart-Ćišinski’s attitude to Lower Sorbian literature was highly critical. Furthermore, it seems that he did not pay enough attention to the differences between Lower and Upper Sorbian literature. A case apart is his relationship with the equally classic Lower Sorbian poet, Mato Kósyk, who was active at about the same time. There seems to have been a certain rivalry prompting Bart-Ćišinski to downplay Kósyk’s role in Sorbian literature.