EN
The article is a part of current "anniversary" discussion dedicated to the January Uprising and its consequences, however, it is attempted to discover its less typical image, often contrary to the established, not to say stereotypical vision of the national uprising and martyrdom. In the narratives often created for the members of its own family, written in private literature (of personal document), the relation of the events associated with the rebellion often appear surprising due to their sense of humour, and colourful anecdote, showing the reactions and experiences of the insurgents (like in the memoirs of Kazimierz Zienkiewicz), and self-irony, the ability to perceive the grotesque and the pragmatism of the Siberians (as in the memoirs of Jadwiga Prendowska, Władysław Zapałowski's diary, Leon Krupecki's letters). The aim of the text is primarily to show various ways of "disarming" the tragic experience by emphasizing their exoticism and comedy, or focusing on tiny problems of everyday life, which probably – as for individuals and families – constituted psychologically effective strategy of defence.