Nobel Prize in Literature
1 appearances
-
Edition 5 (1905) Winner
Henryk Sienkiewicz
ヘンリク・シェンキェヴィチ
Henriku Shienkyewicchi
Pen Names:
Litwos（Pseudonym used in journalistic and magazine contributions）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1846-05-05 （Wola Okrzejska, Lublin Governorate, Congress Poland (now Poland)）
- Died
- 1916-11-15 （Vevey, Vaud, Swiss Confederation） age 70
- Nationality
- Poland
- Languages
- Polish
- Religion
- Roman Catholic
- Residence History
- Warsaw, Poland → Oblęgorek (near Kielce), Poland → Kraków, Poland → Vevey, Switzerland → Paris, France → London, United Kingdom → Anaheim / California, United States
Career
- Occupations
- writer, novelist, journalist
- Active Years
- 1869-1916
- Affiliations
- Polish Academy of Learning (Akademia Umiejętności / Academy of Learning), Russian Academy of Sciences, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Academy of Arcadia (Italy), Royal Czech Society of Sciences
- Memberships
- Polish Academy of Learning, Russian Academy of Sciences, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Royal Czech Society of Sciences, Academy of Arcadia (Italy)
- Influenced By
- Victor Hugo, Ancient Greek and Latin literature
- Influenced
- 20th-century Polish historical novelists, Generations of Polish readers and school curricula
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Warsaw (Imperial University of Warsaw) | Institute of Philology and History | Classical languages and history | — | 1866–1871 | Congress Poland (then part of the Russian Empire) |
University of Warsaw (Imperial University of Warsaw)
Institute of Philology and History
/ Classical languages and history
Period:
1866–1871
Year of Graduation:
1871
Country:
Congress Poland (then part of the Russian Empire)
Completed university studies in 1871 but reportedly did not receive a formal diploma due to failing the Ancient Greek examination
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | Nobel Prize in Literature | — | — | Nobel Committee / The Nobel Foundation | winner |
| 1904 | Légion d'honneur | — | — | French government | recipient |
| 1900 | Honorary doctorate (Jagiellonian University) | — | — | Jagiellonian University | honorary degree |
| 1911 | Honorary doctorate (Lwów University) | — | — | Lwów University | honorary degree |
| 1902 | Honorary citizenship (Lwów) | — | — | City of Lwów | honorary |
Nobel Prize in Literature
1905
Organization:
Nobel Committee / The Nobel Foundation
Result:
winner
Légion d'honneur
1904
Organization:
French government
Result:
recipient
Honorary doctorate (Jagiellonian University)
1900
Organization:
Jagiellonian University
Result:
honorary degree
Honorary doctorate (Lwów University)
1911
Organization:
Lwów University
Result:
honorary degree
Honorary citizenship (Lwów)
1902
Organization:
City of Lwów
Result:
honorary
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
With Fire and Sword
1884 historical novelAn epic historical novel set in the 17th-century Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, depicting Cossack uprisings and wartime events.
patriotismheroismhistorical memory
Adaptations
- [Film] With Fire and Sword / Jerzy Hoffman (1999)
Translations
- English translations (multiple editions)
The Deluge
1886 historical novelThe second volume of the Trilogy, set during the Swedish invasion of Poland known as the Deluge.
national survivalsacrificemilitary and politics
Adaptations
- [Film] The Deluge / Jerzy Hoffman (1974)
Translations
- English translations (multiple editions)
Sir Michael (Pan Wołodyjowski)
1888 historical novelFinal volume of the Trilogy focusing on the lives and struggles of Polish soldiers and officers.
honorfriendshipwar and everyday life
Adaptations
- [Film] Colonel Wołodyjowski / Jerzy Hoffman (1969)
Translations
- English translations (multiple editions)
Quo Vadis
1896 historical novel / early ChristianitySet in Nero's Rome, the novel contrasts early Christians with Roman society; it became an international bestseller.
faith and persecutionmorality and salvationcorruption of power
Adaptations
- [Film] Quo Vadis / Mervyn LeRoy (1951)
- [Film] Quo Vadis / Enrico Guazzoni (1913)
- [TV miniseries] Quo Vadis? / Franco Rossi (1985)
Translations
- English translations (Jeremiah Curtin et al.)
The Teutonic Knights (The Knights of the Cross)
1900 historical novelDepicts the Battle of Grunwald and the conflict between the Polish–Lithuanian union and the Teutonic Knights.
national consciousnesshistorical educationmythologizing victory
Adaptations
- [Film] Knights of the Teutonic Order / Aleksander Ford (1960)
Translations
- English translations (multiple editions)
In Desert and Wilderness
1912 adventure novel (for young readers)An adventure story set in Africa about a Polish boy and an English girl; widely read as youth literature.
adventurefriendshipcultural encounter
Adaptations
- [Film] In Desert and Wilderness / Władysław Ślesicki (1973)
- [Film] In Desert and Wilderness / Gavin Hood (2001)
Translations
- English translations (various)
Bibliography
- Na Marne (In Vain, 1872)
- Stary Sługa (The Old Servant, 1875)
- Hania (1876)
- Selim Mirza (1877)
- Ogniem i mieczem (With Fire and Sword, 1884)
- Potop (The Deluge, 1886)
- Pan Wołodyjowski (Sir Michael, 1888)
- Quo Vadis (1896)
- Krzyżacy (The Teutonic Knights, 1900)
- Na polu chwały (On the Field of Glory, 1906)
- Wiry (Whirlpools, 1910)
- W pustyni i w puszczy (In Desert and Wilderness, 1912)
Adaptations
- Quo Vadis (film adaptations in 1913, 1924, 1951, 2001, etc.)
- The Trilogy (film and TV adaptations: 1969, 1974, 1999, etc.)
- In Desert and Wilderness (films in 1973 and 2001)
Translations by Author
- Collaborated on a Polish translation of Victor Hugo's 'Ninety-Three' (1874)
Translations of Works
- Quo Vadis: translated into 40+ languages including English, French and German
- With Fire and Sword: translated into many languages (at least 26 translations during his lifetime)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- epic, narrative-driven styleemphasis on historical descriptionclear and accessible prose
- Recurring Motifs
- patriotism and national heroicsfaith and moralityplight of the powerless
Health
-
Ischemic heart disease晩年（1916年に死去）Suffered from heart disease in later years and died of ischemic heart disease in 1916; his activity was constrained toward the end of his life.
-
Tuberculosis (noted in context of his wife's death)1880年代（周辺の活動・慈善に影響）After his wife's death of tuberculosis he established funds to aid artists endangered by tuberculosis and engaged in related philanthropy.
Legacy
One of Poland's foremost writers of historical fiction, known for the Trilogy and Quo Vadis. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905; his works have had lasting influence in Polish education and popular culture.
Museums
- Henryk Sienkiewicz Museum in Oblęgorek Oblęgorek (near Kielce), Poland Opened in 1958
- Henryk Sienkiewicz Museum in Wola Okrzejska Wola Okrzejska (birthplace), Poland Opened in 1966
- Henryk Sienkiewicz Museum in Poznań Poznań, Poland Opened in 1978
Academic Societies
- Polish Academy of Learning
- Russian Academy of Sciences
- Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Archives
- Collections and archives at the Oblęgorek museum
- Manuscripts and related materials held in Warsaw and Kraków libraries/archives
In Popular Culture
- Film adaptations of Quo Vadis (the 1951 version is internationally well known)
- Many works are included in Polish school curricula
- Numerous streets, schools and public places named after him (including more than 70 schools)
Quotes
-
"This honour is of particular value to a son of Poland... She was pronounced dead – yet here is proof that she lives on."
Source: Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1905 (1905)
Trivia
- The Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded for his lifetime achievement; no single work is named in the award.
- Because Russia (his citizenship at the time) was not a signatory of the Berne Convention, he rarely received royalties from translations.
- He used the pen name 'Litwos' for journalistic contributions.
- A Sienkiewicz Mound commemorates him near his birthplace.