Cyprian Kamil NorwidCyprian Kamil Norwid (1821 - 1883) is known as the 'fourth bard' of Polish Romanticism (along with Adam Mickiewicz, Juliusz Slowacki and Zygmunt Krasiński), a title he was accorded only in the twentieth century when, after the manner of Gerard Mnley Hopkins and William Blake in England, he was discovered by a new literary generation. Prior to the 'Young Poland' period of the early twentieth century, Norwid's penchant for coinages and dense philosophical verse was received less enthusiastically, although he did have his admirers, such as the novelist Jóżef Ignacy Kraszewski, who called him a 'dislocated genius' [zwichnięty geniusz]. Norwid was born in Warsaw. On his mother's side, he is descended from one of the greatest Kings of Poland - Jan III Sobieski, who delivered Vienna from the Ottoman siege of 1683. Norwid's literary genius is multifaceted. Some of his lyrics, such as 'Fortepian Szopena' [Chopin's grand piano] and 'Bema pamięci żalobny rapsod' [A rhapsodic lament in memory of General Bem] are among the best known works of modern Polish verse. Besides his poetry, he authored works of prose fiction and short aesthetic sketches, as well as eleven works for the stage and six minor dramatic pieces - all of which are found in the present volume. Norwid was a talented graphic artist. Following his emigration from Poland, he supported himself in France and Great Britain, as well as during a short stay in the United States, as an illustrator. He died in Paris, in virtual poverty. Read More Read Less