Prus, Dzieci and censorship

Abstract

In the years 1905–1909 Bolesław Prus worked on a novel primarily called Świt and its larger version which was later published under the title Dzieci. The book was devoted mainly to the issues of young people (sixteen- or eighteen-year-olds) entering life with “adult” problems (e.g. generational differences, responsibilities, mental maturity tested in difficult social conditions) complicated by the political situation of 1905.

In the collection of Biblioteka Publiczna in Warsaw one can find a lengthy 74-page manuscript of final parts of the novel, which were added by Prus after finishing the publication in “Epoka”, in the Kingdom of Poland (it lasted from 3 June to 17 October 1907 and was not finished or released), and in “Kurier Lwowski”, in which the complete text divided into 52 instalments was published from 30 September to 28 December 1907. From 4 January to 26 December 1908, the novel appeared in “Tygodnik Ilustrowany” under the changed title Dzieci and with a new ending. In 1909, a book version of the novel, similar to the one published by “Tygodnik Ilustrowany”, was released by Gebethner and Wolff. However, some significant marks of editorial interference (sometimes altering the meaning of the novel’s parts) could be seen, including important changes introduced because of censorship (that after 1905 became repressive). The omission of necessary modifications could result in serious consequences, such as financial restrictions, the withdrawal of books, the dissolution of the publishing company or even the arrest of its management.

In 1908, Gebethner and Wolff publishing house decided to print the full text of the novel and publish it in instalments in “Tygodnik Ilustrowany”. In the following year, in which the book version was expected to be released, the company did not decide to do something similar. In all likelihood, the changes were introduced by the author himself as he remained under the pressure of the publisher fearful of censorial restrictions.

The tabular overview presents chosen extracts which were removed from the novel in its book form (in 1909) or modified and published in daily press (“Epoka”, “Kurier Lwowski”) and weekly magazines (“Tygodnik Ilustrowany”). More than twenty extracts of different lengths excised from the novel can be perceived as a crucial text that confirms the existence of many politically inappropriate implications and the author’s concerns which referred to his previous experience (Prus, at the age of 16, participated in the January Uprising). Also the reality did not present any positive examples of transition.