FRANKO Jan (Ivan) - Poet of Betrayal (Ein Dichter des Verrathes) [1897] [criticism of Mickiewicz].

Warsaw 1897, in Gubernial Printing House. 14.5x21 cm, pp. 22, softcover. Good condition (minor stains on cover, minimal loss at right edge of title page).

Polish translation of an unfavorable article on Mickiewicz, published in the Viennese daily "Die Zeit" by Ukrainian publicist and Slavist Ivan (here: Jan) Franko.

"(...) We have thus reviewed almost all of Mickiewicz's poetry, and - we expect - proved sufficiently that treason, in its most varied forms served as the main theme for almost all of his works, that, however, the poet - and this is the most characteristic - did not describe it as a despicable vice, as a negation of ethical feeling, but very often as something heroic, sometimes even as something ideal, because it was instilled by the loftiest patriotism. Sad indeed must have been the times in which a brilliant poet was cast down on such erroneous paths, and sad it must be with such a nation that regards this kind of poet without any reservation as its greatest national hero and prophet, and feeds its young generations with the venom-filled works of his spirit." [excerpt]