Powstanie styczniowe i polityka pamięci. "Orzeł bielszy niż gołębica" Konrada T. Lewandowskiego i "Gambit Wielopolskiego" Adama Przechrzty

Abstract

The article discusses two Polish alternate history novels: Orzeł bielszy niż gołębica (An Eagle Whiter than a Dove) by Konrad T. Lewandowski and Gambit Wielopolskiego (Wielopolski’s Gambit) by Adam Przechrzta in the context of the politics of memory of the January Uprising of 1863. Politics of memory, according to Lech M. Nijakowski, can be defined as activities directed towards changing and shaping collective memory. Politics of memory is intentional, society orientated, and focused on achieving political objectives. In the first part of the article, the collective memory and politics of memory of the January Uprising is described. The second part analyses Gambit Wielopolskiego by Adam Przechrzta, its cultural context, and the fashion in which it depicts the uprising. In the third part, the same motifs are used in the reading of Orzeł bielszy niż gołębica by Konrad T. Lewandowski. The interpretation of the novels in this broad context allows for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of the collective memory of the January Uprising.

Keywords

• allohistory
• alternate history
• counterfactuality
• january uprising
• polish 19th c. history
• gambit wielopolskiego
• orzeł bielszy niż gołębica
• konrad t. lewandowski
• adam przechrzta