The correspondence of Gabriela Zapolska as a source of Maria Szeliga's emigration experiences

Bibliogr. s. 178-180. W skróconej formie referat o niniejszej treści wygłoszony został 28 stycznia 2024 r. na Ogólnopolskiej Konferencji Naukowej "O kobietach… Dyskursy, konteksty kulturowo-historyczne, obyczajowość" organizowanej przez Ośrodek Badawczy Facta Ficta

In Poland, knowledge of Maria Cheliga today is, to put it mildly, poor. To some extent, this is justified because as a 19th century writer, she did not gain a good reputation among local critics. Since her talent did not dazzle, her life was also not considered worthy of attention. Cheliga only spread her wings when she emigrated. Paris became the ground on which she could freely develop her solidarity ideals, shape her character, and engage in desired social journalism. Cheliga's involvement in the international feminist movement and numerous initiatives at the press level currently command respect from French and American researchers - but it is worth noting that the biography of the author of "Nic nowego pod słońcem" ("Nothing New Under the Sun") still abounds with unexplored areas. The editorial reception of Cheliga's biography using the letters of Gabriela Zapolska, a playwright and novelist three years her junior, allows for a completely fresh research perspective. Therefore, their peculiar friendship deserves scrutiny under the microscope. In Zapolska's vividly constructed letters, the swish of the guillotine resonates, as does the tranquil murmur of the Seine. Echoes of famous feminist congresses and discussions held by the Parisian Polonia. It cannot be denied that the French metropolis at the end of the 19th century became a mecca for vast crowds of artists. Although Zapolska herself, in the role of an emigrant, desired a career as a great actress and resisted being labeled an emancipator, she passionately poured words expressing the state of her contemporary Paris onto paper. During her six-year stay by the Seine, she also became a recognized reporter for Polish publications. The paper will show that her correspondence legacy can become a source allowing us to uncover the Maria Cheliga's everyday life, supplement the existing image of her life, and also show that each of her days had its beginning and end.