PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Tales of the Tatras by K. P. Tetmajer

zamagurie — Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:03 pm

Author: zamagurie

Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:03 pm

I was able to purchase this book years ago as one of the first cultural books translated to English. I agree it is very good. KAM

Re: Another rare Tatra book (listed on amazon.com)

PaniKohani — Sat May 11, 2013 12:11 pm

Author: PaniKohani

Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 12:11 pm

Hi Ute,

I have seen this poem of Tetmajer's in my search online (however, not much more of his poems are available there, translated
into English. I would certainly like to read more of them. He seems to have a rather descriptive 'earthiness', capturing that area of
Podhale, I think you would agree.

PaniKohani

Re: Another rare Tatra book (listed on amazon.com)

Ute — Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:28 pm

Author: Ute

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:28 pm

Thank you, PaniKohani! This seems to be a great book for those of us who have bonds to this region. I just read that Kazimierz Tetmajer was from Ludzmierz, only a stone's throw away from Dlugopole, the village my paternal grandfather's mother was from.
I also like the poem he wrote, 'A Cradle Wind' (translated by Walter Whipple):

"Toward my cradle flew a Tatra wind,
brushed by eagles' wings and mountain pines
which gape from craggs into the abyss --
it blew and roared above my cradle.

Into my heart poured a lasting fit
of longing for eagles' flight and the
pensiveness of pines swaying in the
mountain tops, engulfed in pure quiet."

Another rare Tatra book (listed on amazon.com)

PaniKohani — Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:43 pm

Author: PaniKohani

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:43 pm

Hi all,

Came across this book, in English (copies sold online at amazon) entitled:

FOLK TALES OF THE GORAL HIGHLANDERS OF POLAND

There was only one review but it was a good one (here is an excerpt from the review)--

"Tales of the Tatras by Kazimierz Tetmajer is a great book for anyone interested in or
descended from the people of the Tatra Mountains....gives me a little more of
an idea of what life was like for my ancestors.

This book is a collection of 12 tales of the peasants, villagers and highlanders who lived
in the 18th and 19th century in the Tatras....highlight(s) the beliefs and values of the
time...Each story is unique yet so full of vivid detail and emotion that you feel as though
you are listening to the story teller as they weave the tale. So little of the culture of the
Tatras exists in book form, especially in English, that this is a true treasure."
(from review by Shawn Marchinek in 2009).

Thought some of you might be interested in obtaining a copy.