Sienkiewicz is more than a juggler of genius in narrative prose. This conservative writer knew that no unproblematic representation of reality was possible. The energy of his narratives disturbs narrative order and exposes the heteronomy of a superficially unified style, thus generating fissures, but never ruining the architecture of the text.

Ryszard Koziołek is a professor of literature at the University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland). His interests include the history and theory of the novel, and the genealogy of modern Polish prose fiction. His books include: (1997); (2009); and (2011).

Contents: Henryk Sienkiewicz – Fiction – Poland - late nineteenth century – Polish fiction – Trylogia – Quo vadis – Bodies – Narrative – Violence – Gender – Sex – Illness and death.