Konstanty Gaszyński – the first editor of letters by Zygmunt Krasiński

Abstract

The first edition of selected letters by Zygmunt Krasiński was edited by his closest friend – Konstanty Gaszyński – and published in Paris in 1860. The volume Wyjątki z listów Zygmunta Krasińskiego included selected letters that were – pursuant to the title – fragmentary quoted, without introducing recipients’ names, which was compatible with the rules of contemporary editing and presented in the introduction to the book. The editor’s aim was not to publish an integral text of letters but to familiarise readers with more interesting extracts of both literary and philosophical values. The letters were not treated as a biographical source. On the contrary, some details of that kind were usually omitted.