Jedrzej Kitowicz was a parish priest in central Poland with a military and worldly past. In his later years, after putting the affairs of his parish in order, he composed a colorful chronicle of all aspects and walks of life under King August III. He seems to have written mostly from memory, creating in the process the most complete record that exists of society in eighteenth-century Poland. A man with omnivorous tastes, a keen sense of observation, and a wry-at times bawdy-sense of humor, Kitowicz's realistic and robust literary technique has been compared in its earthiness and evocativeness to Flemish genre painting. A noteworthy example of eighteenth-century writing and narrative talent, his Opis reveals an astounding visual memory and a modern ethnographer's eye for material culture. The present book consists of fifty-one chapters, including all of the most celebrated ones, from Father Kitowicz's Opis, complete with a comprehensive introduction. Topics include religious beliefs, customs and institutions, child-rearing, education, the judiciary and the military. Particularly vivid are the descriptions of the lives of the nobility, ranging from cooking through men's and women's wear to household entertainments and drinking habits. A commentary by the editor introduces each chapter.

About the Author
Oscar E. Swan is Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh.

Reviews
"Oscar E. Swan's English edition of Kitowicz's Description is a terrific addition to the scholarship on the history and literature of early modern Europe. Swan's treatment does not merely translate an interesting work for curious readers. His translation, annotation, and commentary are self-admittedly novel and bold in interpretation, and they demonstrate the text's wide-ranging scholarly applicability. It emerges well contextualized for a diverse audience, attractive as either a secondary or primary source, either literary or historical. This edition is especially useful as a model for scholars who desire to make sources from less commonly studied languages or cultures accessible to a wider readership." https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=54364 -- Bryan Kozik * H-Net Reviews *
"Eines der bedeutendsten Quellenwerke zur polnischen Geschichte ist nun auch in einer westsprachlichen UEbersetzung zuganglich. Kennern war dieses Buch uber die Sitten in Polen zur Zeit der Herrschaft des zweiten Wettinerkoenigs August III. (1733-1763) schon lange bekannt, und es ist auch haufig in historischen Arbeiten zur fruhen Neuzeit in Polen ausgewertet worden. Wer sich fur die Geschichte des alten Polens interessiert, findet hier einen hoechst informativen und amusant zu lesenden Text, der in manchem von der klassischen Narration zum 18. Jh. in Polen abweicht und gerade dadurch weitere Neugier wecken kann." -- Martin Faber * Zeitschrift fur Ostmitteleuropa-Forschung *



Book Information
ISBN 9789633862759
Author Oscar E. Swan
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Central European University Press
Publisher Central European University Press