Wędrówki Syrokomli po ziemi i na wodzie. Narracje - opisy - folklor

ENThe reason behind Władysław Syrokomla’s journeys, despite his detailed descriptions of the lands he visited, was not mere sightseeing. The writer first and foremost intended to save from oblivion the cultural and historic heritage of what was formerly known as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Also, he aimed to show the relationships between the lands that had been divided by the partitions (Greater Poland in his "Podróż swojaka po swojszczyźnie"). Syrokomla’s interest focuses on the historical buildings and relics (often deteriorating) as well as on the nations inhibiting the areas in question (the Lithuanians, Ruthenians, Tartars, Karaites). The writer traversed these territories by rail, horse-drawn carriages and boats (Niemen od źródeł do ujścia). The geopoetics of the lands depicted by Syrokomla contextually refers to the travelogue of the late-romanticism as Syrokomla clads the informative aspect of his descriptions in a thick emotional veil that reflects his strong emotional bond to the places he potrayed. These emotions are particularly evident in "Wędrówki po moich niegdyś okolicach", in which the writer combines spatial descriptions with retrospections.Special attention should be given to the book that stands out in terms of structure and content that is Syrokomla’s "Niemen od źródeł do ujścia. 1). Monografia od jego źródeł do Kowna przez Władysława Syrokomlę. 2). Pamiętnik podróży żeglarza litewską wiciną, z Kowna do Królewca". The distinctiveness of this trip along the rivers of Lithuania is reflected in a romantic yet realistic depiction of the Lithuanian hydrography. All socio-cultural literary works are characterized by a structure that combines different genres, including a description, a travelogue, a historical, socio-economic and etnographic sketch, a diary and a reportage. Thys hybrid nature of Syrokomla’s works influenced the later non-fiction devoted to the historic Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Key words: Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Neman, river, travel, journey, sailing, nationality, home, homeland. [From the publication]