Between ‘Written’ and ‘Dictated’ (An Example of Sienkiewicz’s Archive)

Henryk Sienkiewicz is reknown as one of the most important Polish writers of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Study of his work can be complement by his extensive correspondence (Letters form Sienkiewicz alone have 14 volumes) or his notes. Particularly noteworthy are the literary work’s rough-drafts. Recently the library of the Ossolinski National Institute bought the latest collection, the Sienkiewicz’s archive from one of the writer’s descendant. In this archive is located a considerable collection of manuscripts, rough-drafts and documents written in Sienkiewicz’s wife handwriting. This collection contains noticeable fragments of drafts with doubtful authorship: written by writer’s wife, however presumably dictated by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Author will prove the meaning of this part of the archive for all research in Sienkiewicz’s heritage. Then, she will try to determine the authorship of one of the rough drafts.