Rycerz (nie)doskonały. Postać księcia Józefa Poniatowskiego w prozie historycznej dla młodzieży okresu PRL-u

Abstract

The author of the article discusses different ways of presentation of Józef Poniatowski in the historical prose for young people in the communist era in Poland. Chosen historical novels (M. Krüger, Cz. Niemyska- Rączaszkowa, M. Kann), biographies (K. Koźmiński, L. Przemski) and the accompanying metatextual elements (titles, prologues, mottos, commentaries from the authors) are subject to interpretation. The author of the article discusses persuasive (rhetorical) devices, which were used in the chosen historical biographies for building a positive image of Prince Józef. A separate issue analysed in the present article are the mechanisms of de-heroisation and negative revision of Prince Józef’s Romantic legend in the literature for young readers used after the Second World War, which were imposed on the authors by the socialistic doctrine of upbringing. The author presents examples of falsifying the facts related to Poniatowski’s participation in fights for independence at the beginning of the 19th century, interference of institutional censorship and ideological interpretations in works dedicated to the deeds of this particular national hero.