Central European University Press Customs and Culture in Poland under the Last Saxon King: Selections from Opis obyczajów za panowania Augusta III by father Jedrzej Kitowicz, 1728-1804

Jędrzej Kitowicz, a parish priest in central Poland, with a military and worldly past behind him, putting the affairs of his parish in order, in his mature years commenced to compose a colorful chronicle of all aspects and walks of life under king August III. He wrote apparently mostly from memory, creating in the process the most complete record that exists of society in eighteenthcentury Poland. A man of omnivorous tastes, a keen sense of observation, and a wry--at times bawdy--sense of humor, Kitowicz's realistic and robust literary technique has been compared for its earthiness and evocativeness to Flemish genre painting. A noteworthy example of eighteenthcentury writing and narrative talent, his Opis reveals an astounding visual memory and a modern ethnographer's eye for what constitutes a society's material culture. The present book consists of twentyfour chapters, excerpts from Father Kitowicz's Opis, complete with a comprehensive introduction. Topics include religious beliefs, customs and institutions, childrearing, education, the judiciary and the military. Particularly colorful are the descriptions of the lives of the nobility, ranging from cookery thru men's and women's wear to household entertainments and drinking habits. Each chapter is introduced by the translator's commentary. Review For anyone interested in the history and development of Polish culture Kitowicz's work is a must-read. Writing in the late eighteenth century about gentry life during the reign of August III (1734-63), when French influences had not yet strongly affected the dress and customs of the land-owning class, Kitowicz provided a vivid portrayal of life under the last of the Saxon kings. Professor Swan's faithful and fluent translation, accompanied by copious explanatory footnotes, allows the reader to become a kind of participant-observer of the details of every-day life (religious practice, eating and drinking, child rearing, military service and much more).--Robert A. RothsteinArmed with the curiosity and meticulousness of an ethnologist, Father Jedrzej Kitowicz observes the changing landscape of eighteenth-century Poland through the lens of objects, customs, habits, and regulations. Quintessentially Polish himself, Kitowicz represents major native vices and virtues: fear of foreign influences, short-sighted conservatism, at times even misogyny, but also curiosity, unique powers of perception, and a desire to order the chaotic world. Consequently, his ubiquitous, sometimes sardonic sense of humor is laced with underlying worry for the future of Poland, inscribing the publication into the long tradition of national melancholic narratives. Customs and Culture in Poland under the Last Saxon King, masterfully translated by Professor Oscar Swan of the University of Pittsburgh is an inexhaustible source of information not only for historians, but also scholars who examine the difficult relations between east and west, religious studies, political sciences, and, above all, material culture enthusiasts.--Agnieszka JezykOscar E. Swan's English edition of Kitowicz's Description is a terrific addition to the scholarship on the history and literature of early modern Europe. Swan's treatment does not merely translate an interesting work for curious readers. His translation, annotation, and commentary are self-admittedly novel and bold in interpretation, and they demonstrate the text's wide-ranging scholarly applicability. It emerges well contextualized for a diverse audience, attractive as either a secondary or primary source, either literary or historical. This edition is especially useful as a model for scholars who desire to make sources from less commonly studied languages or cultures accessible to a wider readership.https: //www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=54364--Bryan Kozik, H-Net ReviewsEines der bedeutendsten Quellenwerke zur polnischen Geschichte ist nun auch in einer westsprachlichen Übersetzung zugäng