Karol Olgierd Borchardt (1905-1986) was a captain of ocean going navigation, a writer and a teacher. He started his teaching job during World War II in England where taught in and directed Maritime Gymnasium and Grammar School in Landywood. In 1953-1978 he lectured (mainly astronavigation) at Gdynia Maritime University. He was a unique and even charismatic teacher. He did not punish his students, rarely gave bad marks, he always treated his pupils as subjects of the teaching process, in a way that could be described as ‘fatherly-facetious’ manner. This outline comprises unpublished Borchardt’s letters in which the writer expressed his thoughts on the most difficult, according to him, profession – the profession of a teacher.
Romuald Traugutt was short-sighted. He wore glasses from his early years until the last moments of his life. A moment before the execution, he took them off and threw them on the ground. They had survived their owner – today they are kept in the Licheń sanctuary. The motif of Romuald Traugutt’s glasses is a frequent and important component of his literary legend. It appears multiple times in literature – from Gloria Victis by Eliza Orzeszkowa to the poem Gest [Gesture] by Stanisław Grochowiak.
Born at the beginning of the 20th century, the popular Polish writer and captain of the Polish Merchant Marine, Karol Olgierd Borchardt, belonged to a generation brought up on the literary work of Henryk Sienkiewicz. Potop was Borchardt’s favourite novel, and Sienkiewicz his most acknowledged writer. Recalling his sailing at sea, especially in the novels Znaczy kapitan (1961) and Szaman morski (1985), Borchardt eagerly and frequently made references to characters and events from Trylogia. Even in his unfinished book of childhood memories, Pod czerwoną różą (1991), published posthumously, while telling a family anecdote, Borchardt made references to Kiemlicze, known from Potop. One may say that Borchardt remained faithful to Sienkiewicz for the rest of his life, invariably con amore referring to and citing the works of Sienkiewicz.
W artykule poddano analizie kreację Romualda Traugutta w powieści fantastycznej Konrada T. Lewandowskiego wydanej w 150. rocznicę powstania styczniowego, realizującej model historii alternatywnej w konwencji steampunk. Lewandowski kontynuuje złotą legendę Traugutta – męczennika sprawy narodowej kształtującą się już od dnia egzekucji Rządu Narodowego, a ugruntowaną w literaturze pięknej przez E. Orzeszkową. Nowością zaproponowaną przez pisarza jest rzeczywistość alternatywna, w której powstańcy styczniowi pokonali Rosję dzięki cudowi techniki – specyficznym czołgom wymyślonym przez I. Łukasiewicza. Traugutt w owej rzeczywistości nie ginie, zostaje Naczelnikiem Państwa; podobnie jak realny pierwowzór jest dobrym żołnierzem i człowiekiem głębokiej wiary. Lewandowski podkreśla patriotyzm i heroizm bohatera, gdy ten dobrowolnie godzi się na śmierć dla ojczyzny.
EN
The article analyzes the creation of Romuald Traugutt in the fantasy novel by Konrad T. Lewandowski, published on the 150th anniversary of the January Uprising, which implements the model of alternative history in the steampunk convention. Lewandowski continues the golden legend of Traugutt – a martyr of the national case, which has been evolving since the day the National Government was executed, and grounded in belleslettres by E. Orzeszkowa. A novelty proposed by the writer is an alternative reality in which the January insurgents defeated Russia thanks to the technical miracle, specific tanks invented by I. Łukasiewicz. Traugutt in this reality does not die, he becomes the Chief of State; just like the real prototype, he is a good soldier and a man of deep faith. Lewandowski emphasizes the hero's patriotism and heroism when he voluntarily agrees to die for his homeland.
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