Niesamowity świat awiacji w międzywojennej nowelistyce Janusza Meissnera

Abstract

The article is an attempt to analyse interwar fantastic short-stories written by Janusz Meissner. It focuses on the pioneering variety of fantastic fiction represented by Meissner’s works, which could be regarded as “aviation ghost stories”; showing the socio-cultural context of the works (fascinations and fears associated with the technological revolution from the beginning of the 20th century), traces of the influence of literary traditions (Demon ruchu [The Motion Demon] by Stefan Grabiński, marine literature) and quasi-literary inspirations (legends and folklore of first aircraft pilots, but also analogical phenomena such as marine folklore, oral tradition of yarns, railroad folklore) as well as characteristic features of Meissner’s short stories, which allow classifying them as literature for young people.