The Wendish Research Exchange - Kaleta, Petr: Poles and Polish Topics in the Journal “Łužica” 1882–1916

Lětopis Abstract 2012 2: Kaleta, Petr: Poles and Polish Topics in the Journal “Łužica” 1882–1916

Following the fusion of the journals Łužičan and Lipa Serbska in 1882, the new Sorbian journal Łužica was founded and became the most important popular journal in Lusatia in the period that followed. From the very beginning, in addition to the main Sorbian topics, the journal was also devoted to the literary, historical and cultural life of the Poles’ Slavic neighbours. The Poles and Polish topics also had their place in the journal Łužica for the entire period under study, 1882–1916. The editors devoted significant attention to well-known personalities from Polish-Sorbian relations, Wilhelm Józef Bogusławski and Alfons Parczewski, but also to Parczewski’s sister Melania, the author who published the most articles in the journal. However, the journal also familiarized the reader with the work of the most significant Polish writers of the 19th century. This consisted, above all, of the work of Henryk Sienkiewicz, which was presented to the Sorbs in translations by Jurij Winger, though samples from the translations of three of Mickiewicz’s sonnets by Jakub Bart-Ćišinski also appeared in the journal. Information on the life and work of other Polish writers, e.g. Kornel Ujejski, Michał Bałucki or Adam Asnyk, was also published. Polish topics in the journal were covered primarily by Michał Hórnik, Mikławš Andricki, Adolf Sommer, Adolf Černý and Arnošt Muka, who familiarized the Sorbs of Lusatia with topics from Polish history. Information regularly provided by Łužica about Polish financial support for Sorbian institutions, publications and students is also of importance.