Zygmunt Krasiński
Polish poet
Died when: 47 years 4 days (564 months)Star Sign: Aquarius
Napoleon Stanislaw Adam Feliks Zygmunt Krasinski (Polish pronunciation: ['z?gmunt kra'?i?sk?i]; 19 February 1812 – 23 February 1859) was a Polish poet traditionally ranked after Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz Slowacki as one of Poland's Three Bards – the Romantic poets who influenced national consciousness in the period of Partitions of Poland.
Krasinski was the most famous member of the Krasinski family.He was born in Paris to Count Wincenty Krasinski and Maria Urszula Radziwill, and became the close companion of his father after his mother's early death from tuberculosis.
He was educated by tutors prior to attending the Warsaw Lyceum, where he graduated in 1827.He then started to study law and administration at the Imperial University of Warsaw, but was expelled from the university in 1829.
In 1829 Krasinski left Poland to study in Geneva.He met Mickiewicz, who dazzled the young writer and played an important part in shaping his literary techniques.
In Rome, Krasinski received news about the November Uprising and broke off his trip with the intention of returning to Poland to fight, but in the end, did not participate.
In 1833 he travelled from Saint Petersburg to Italy, where he would stay until April 1834.This period saw the creation of probably his most famous work, the tragic drama Nie-Boska komedia (The Undivine Comedy).
By 1850 his health had worsened, but that did not stop his constant travels around Europe.Through letters and audiences with European figures, including Napoleon III of France, he sought to gain support for the Polish cause.
To avoid political repercussions, he published his works anonymously, which led to him being known as the Anonymous Poet of Poland.
Krasinski's early works were influenced by Walter Scott and Lord Byron and extolled medieval chivalry.In 1845 he published Psalmy przyszlosci (Psalms of the Future).
He is best known for The Undivine Comedy as well as for the large body of well-received letters.His writings explore conservatism, Christianity, the necessity of sacrifice and suffering to moral progress, and providentialism.
The Undivine Comedy and another major work, Irydion (1834), explore the concept of class struggle, contemplating social revolution, and predicting the destruction of the nobility.
His later writings showed his opposition to romantic militant ventures.He wrote letters, poetry, and "treatises in the philosophy of history", such as Psalms of the Future and Przedswit (Predawn).
The Undivine Comedy is perhaps the most important Polish drama of the Romantic period.
