Władysław Orkan Plaque
Kraków Artists: Writers and Poets
A commemorative plaque in the Old Town dedicated to Władysław Orkan (1875-1930), a writer of the Young Poland period, described as the Singer of Podhale and the Thinker from the Gorce. From Poręba Wielka he went with his brother to St Jacek's Grammar School in Kraków, and their mother walked more than 70 km once a month to visit her sons, carrying food for them; her devotion was described in the novel "Mother" by Ignacy Maciejowski. Orkan died in Kraków on 14 May 1930, although he spent most of his life in the Gorce mountains.
History
Władysław Orkan, whose real name was Franciszek Ksawery Smreczyński, was born on 27 November 1875 in Poręba Wielka. His father was a woodcutter who made kierpce, traditional highland leather shoes, in winter. Together with his older brother Stanisław he finished elementary school at the Cistercian monastery in Szczyrzyc and went to Kraków to attend St Hyacinth's Grammar School. Once a month their mother walked more than seventy kilometres to bring her sons food; her devotion was described by Ignacy Maciejowski in the novel "Matka" ("Mother"). Orkan began publishing his first works while still in the fourth year of school, hiding behind the pen name that stayed with him for ever.
He made his debut in 1898 with the collection "Nowele" ("Short Stories"), with a foreword by Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer. His main subject was the hard lot of the Polish countryside, and his major works include the novel "W roztokach" ("In the Valleys") and the tale of olden times "Drzewiej" ("Long Ago"). He spent most of his life in the Gorce Mountains, in a house known as Orkanówka, but in the First World War he joined the Polish Legions and for a time served in the Kraków office that collected the Legions' records and pictures. He was also a co-founder of the Podhale Highlanders' Union. He died on 14 May 1930 in Kraków, where he had come to visit his dying daughter. He was buried in Rakowicki Cemetery, and a year later his coffin was taken to Zakopane by special train.
The plaque dedicated to the writer is on the corner Pod Ewangelistami townhouse, at Main Market Square 21 and Bracka Street 1. The building dates back to the 14th century; in 1674 it was bought by W. Morsztyn, and a remodelling added a portico with figures of the four Evangelists. Orkan lived here during his stays in Kraków, and the plaque was unveiled in 1938.
Did you know?
In 1914 Orkan stood surety for Vladimir Lenin, who had been arrested in the Podhale region.