Konstanty Majeranowski (1787–1851) jako wydawca i literat

Abstract

KONSTANTY MAJERANOWSKI (1787‒1851) AS A PUBLISHER AND WRITER

Konstanty Majeranowski (1787–1851), who came from the Grójec area, was a well-known figure in the times of the Free City of Krakow (1815–1846). He worked in administration, and served as secretary in the Managing Committee for the Construction of the Tadeusz Kościuszko Monument. He is the author of a dozen or so original theatre plays based on historical motifs, using Krakow folklore, as well as many adaptations and translations of plays from French and German. He became famous as the publisher of Pszczółka Krakowska (The Krakow Little Bee), published between 1819 and 1821, as well as a dozen or so other periodicals, mainly of a literary and historical nature, which did not survive on the publishing market for too long. He filled the pages of these periodicals primarily with historical publications of his own authorship, but also published literary polemics and columns. Fascinated with the history and customs of Krakow, he created historical fictions related to this subject, aiming to emphasise the splendour of the former Krakow bourgeoisie. He was recognised as a skilled journalist who contributed to the revival of the periodical publishing market in Krakow, and an active publisher who also appreciated the need for political information. Between 1836 and 1848 he worked as a censor, a very strict one, and was suspected of spying for Russia.