An Unexpected Lead Found by Sebastian Majewski in the Epistolography of Henryk Sienkiewicz
Dear Władysław Stanisław of the twin names, it is with great deliberation that I read your novel of the promised land. I could feel the breath of that Moloch, which reached me even so far yonder in my Oblęgorek. You have heard that I have received a manor as a present from the nation. It lies some several dozen kilometers from Moloch, but still I could feel that breath. Such a powerful force lies in this novel. And I believe that art makes use of this powerful force. Painting, perhaps. Our master Matejko captures it in a dynamic form of sorts. Or this new art with moving pictures, of which you have doubtless read. Or indeed, the theater.
It is my private dream one day to see my Trilogy [I’m sure you have read it and prepared an opinion] up on stage. And to this dream I add one more: that someone should illustrate your novel as well in the theater, in costumes and decor. I wish you this with all my heart, dear Władysław Stanisław of the twin names.
And moreover, that this future stage producer, one the measure of Kotarbiński or the artist Wyspiański, should appreciate the value of your insightful writing. And should take a wider approach to your work. And that he should go beyond an obvious fascination with the Moloch. Toward those great passions, and that great money. Those sums made by people and for people. Those millions that inflame, delight and destroy. For this is the true strength of your novel. In your writing about what is worthy of admiration, and simultaneously woefully meager. Stimulating and destructive. Of human happiness. And can you imagine happiness without money? And life...? And a free fatherland...?
With my very deepest respects, your Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius – of the four names, your humble servant - Sienkiewicz.
what we know for certain
the promised land is most certainly a novel by Nobel-prize winner Władysław Stanisław Reymont written in the years 1897/1898
the promised land is most certainly a thick novel – in the exclusive edition by Literatura Publishing House in Łódź, it counts 471 pages
the promised land is most certainly an interesting novel
the promised land is linked for every Pole with the city of Łódź and the film by Andrzej Wajda, though Reymont’s novel was first filmed by Aleksander Hertz in 1927
the promised land is most certainly splendid material for theatrical adaptation, but of course only when we see theater as a space for important public debate
the promised land is most certainly a performance prepared by Jana Klata, along with his regular team and the troupe of actors from the Polski Theater in Wrocław and the Wrocław Współczesny Theater
the promised land is most certainly a performance commissioned by the Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź, in 2009
the promised land is most certainly not a performance about a city – about a Moloch, the great expanding and dynamic city of Łódź, nor anything of the sort
the promised land is most certainly not a performance about conflicts between Polish-Jewish-German-Russian nationalities, nor anything of the sort
the promised land is most certainly not an anti-Polish, pro-Polish, anti-Jewish, pro-Jewish, anti-German, pro-German, anti-Russian, or pro-Russian performance, nor anything of the sort
the promised land is most certainly not a performance criticizing the merciless exploitation of capitalism, nor anything of the sort
the promised land is most certainly not a performance manifesting left-wing, right-wing, or middle-of-the-road ideas, nor anything of the sort
the promised land is most certainly not a predictable, obvious, comfortable, ready-made, interventional, journalistic, or textbook performance, nor anything of the sort
the promised land is most certainly not a long, short, dynamic, or monotonous performance, nor anything of the sort
and so, what is the promised land for certain?
you will most certainly see and understand everything for yourself, dear viewer, without our prompting
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