ENThe article refers to the culture and politics of Central Europe, and more specifically to the context of the “uncertain zone of small nations” (Milan Kundera), which is largely unknown in the West. Poland’s specificity becomes the starting point, which in turn allows to present the literature of Poland’s neighbors, i. e. Lithuania, Czechia and Slovakia, all of which shared numerous historical and cultural similarities with Poland, as well as a close relationship. Keywords: Romanticism, nation, literature, poetry, National Revival, emigration, history, language, identity, Central (Eastern) Europe, myths, construction, destruction. [From the publication]