Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855) Acknowledged as Poland's greatest poet. Whatever his chosen form - ballad, poetic tale, romantic drama, or epic - the result was artistically brilliant and profound in meaning. The leader of Polish Romanticism, he created such masterpieces as The Forefathers' Eve, Grazyna, Konrad Wallenrod, and the great Pan Tadeusz. Succeeding generations of Polish poets were to feel the force of his genius. Was an exile in Russia between 1824 and 1829 for his political activities. Much of his work was written in exile in Russia. Spent the rest of his life in Western Europe. Died in Constantinople in 1885.
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Encyclopedia Pronunciation: [ä´däm mEtskye´vich] Polish romantic poet and playwright, b. Belorussia. He studied at the Univ. of Vilna, where he was arrested (1823) for pan-Polish activities and deported to Russia. He was permitted (1829) to travel through Europe, remaining there following the Polish uprising of 1830. Later he served as professor of literature in Lausanne (1839) and in Paris (1840–44). In the revolutionary upheavals of 1848 and again in the Crimean War he organized legions for Polish emancipation. He died in Constantinople during a cholera epidemic. Mickiewicz's poetry gave international stature to Polish literature. His powerful verse expressed a romantic view of the soul and the mysteries of life, often employing Polish folk themes. His major works include the fantastic drama The Forefathers (1823); the philosophical poem Konrad Wallenrod (1828); The Books of the Polish Nation and of Polish Pilgrimage (1832); and the great epic Pan Tadeusz (1834, tr. 1917). This poem, Mickiewicz's masterpiece, is a comprehensive and Homeric treatment of the life of the Polish gentry.

Adam Mickiewicz University is a powerful academic and educational institution with a community of 25,000, similar to that of a medium-sized town. It is the second largest universit y in Poland. At present there are 20,000 students (both intramural and extramural), and 500 professors. The University also has 1,500 non-academic employees. It is located in Poznan, the capital city of the Wielkopolska region. The Library is one of the largest libraries in the country. It is an important resource centre for staff and students of the University. It now possesses around 3 million volumes, and acquires 70,000 new titles annually.

Established in 1956 following celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of the poet's death organized by the Toronto branch of the Canadian Polish Congresses. After the celebration, the Organizing Committee met on January 1, 1956 and passed a motion establishing the Foundation. The goal of the Foundation was to collect funds for the educational and cultural development of the Polish community. More information.

The statue commemorating the figure of the great Polish national poet was erected from funds raised by public subscriptions of the Polish society on the hundredth anniversary of his birthday in 1898. Henryk Sienkiewicz,later a Nobel Prize laureate, was in charge of the committee which collected the money. The monument was executed by Cyprian Godebski, who came from a Polish family,although he permanently lived in France, where he was a highly esteemed artist with considerable achievements;i.e. he carved the busts of outstanding Poles - those of lKonarski, Kraszewski, Mickiewicz, as well as compositions devoted to national topics, though all of those remained abroad. Mickiewicz's statue was to be placed in the heart of Warsaw, in the very elegantly and centrally situated square near Krakowskie Przedmie?cie, next to the Carmelite church. In accordance with the wishes of the commissioning committee, it was to be simple, with the figure of the poet on a pedestal, unaccompanied by any allegoricalfigures or unnecessary symbols. The artist complied with these requirements. The statue is 14.5 metres in height,with the figure itself over 4 metres high. The poet was represented standing, dressed in his usual attire - a frock coat and overcoat on his shoulders; his eyes are raised in inspiration to the sky and his right hand is on his breast.The pedestal, executed according to plans by Józef Pius Dzieko?ski and W?adys?aw Marconi is decorated with the head of Apollo - the god of art. The rays surrounding the head symbolize poetic inspiration. Three attributes of poetry: the lyre, palm branches and scrolls of papyrus are placed over Apollo's head. On the pedestal there is an engraved inscription: "To Adam Mickiewicz from his compatriots", as well as the date - 1898. The statue was universally praised for its realism, the resemblance to the poet and faithfulness in representing the costume, as well as the Romanticism expressed in the pose and gesture of the poet.The ceremony of unveiling the statue took place on December 24,1898. More Information.

PIASA Conference to Observe The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Adam Mickiewicz June 12-13, 1998 December 24, 1998 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Adam Mickiewicz, the greatest Polish poet of Romanticism. Mickiewicz's birth will be celebrated in many countries with conferences and exhibitions. UNESCO is preparing a special volume devoted to the life and work of Adam Mickiewicz. In Poland, 1998 has been designated the year of Adam Mickiewicz. In order to commemorate the poet's achievements, Professor Samuel Fiszman of Indiana University, Bloomington, and Professor Michael J. Mikos from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee are preparing a Mickiewicz conference. It is a great honor for Indiana University to have the co-organizer for this milestone event be chosen from amongst our distinguished faculty of Slavic literatures and languages. The most important event of its kind in the United States, the conference will be held at Georgetown University in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America on June 12-13, 1998, and will be sponsored by the Kociuszko Foundation and the Institute. Papers will be presented by scholars from universities in the United States and the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Eventually, the papers will be on file at the Polish Studies Center. For information, or for information about attending the PIASA Meeting, please contact the Center.

Boris Klein talks abut his restoration of the historic Mickiewicz Trail in Belarus. A complex of sites, buildings, parks, monuments, etc., associated with the life of Adam Mickiewicz and immortalized in his poetry. Sponsored by the Union of Polish People in Belarus, Established the Committee In Memory of A. Mickiewicz, a nonprofit organization based in Grodno, with the goal of managing the restoration of these historic sites. In spite of enormous financial and organizational problems, located the remains of the original 18th century house of Mickiewicz in the village of Zaosie near Novogrudek (another town in Western Belarus) and traces of the Wereszczak family property in Tuchanoviche, also in the vicinity of Grodno. Found the remains of the house where Tadeusz Kosciusko was born in 1746, not far from the the city of Brest in Western Belarus. Restored Mickiewicz's house in another Belorussian city, Novogrudek. In 1991 Pope John Paul II personally blessed the efforts of the committee. More information.

In Paris, France a private museum of personal memorabilia of the great Polish romantic poet Adam Mickiewicz, his manuscripts, documents relating to his activity as a publicist and political figure, his letters along with portraits. More information.

The famous poem in Polish (HTML version). ©1994 Zbigniew J. Pasek
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Four of Chopin's Ballades were inspired by the Polish ballad-poet Adam Mickiewicz. Each Ballade has a musical story behind it. His first Ballade was Ballade no.1 in Gm, Op. 23. It took Chopin four years to complete (1831-1835). The Ballade in G minor is a story of a knight who is charming a lady with whom he is in love with. As the song moves on, the knight ends up in a duel with a fierce rival. They fight an incredible duel until the knight finally loses the battle and dies at the hands of his foe. This song is a story of love, tragedy and a premonition of doom. Chopin's Ballades are considered to be the best. More information.

Adam Mickiewicz the Lecturer.In the fall of 1839 Mickiewicz began lecturing on Roman literature at the university of Lausanne. In 1840-44 he lectured on Slavonic literatures at the College de France. He was suspended as professor by the French authorities for his anti-church attitude and for promoting the religious and mystic ideas of Andrzej Towianski, a representative of Polish Messianism More information.