CAUSES OF THE FALL OF POLAND - WALERIAN KALINKA

Immerse yourself in a deep analysis of the causes of the fall of Poland in the 18th century, presented by the eminent historian Walerian Kalinka. This is not just a book, it is a journey through time that allows you to understand the political and social mechanisms that led to the partitions. Discover the truth about Poland, which, although difficult, is the key to understanding the present.

• Insightful analysis of the causes of the fall of Poland in the 18th century.
• Based on extensive sources, often inaccessible documents.
• Authored by Walerian Kalinka, one of the creators of the Krakow school of history.
• Shows Poland against the background of changes taking place in Europe.
• Analysis of modern politics based on the game of interests.
• First reissue in over a hundred years of this work.
• Contribution to reflection on the current policy of the state.

Walerian Kalinka, an associate of Zamoyski and Czartoryski, author of the monumental work Sejm Czteroletni, wrote his book in the belief that Poles do not need romantic myths and soothing fairy tales, but the truth, even if it is difficult to accept. In his book, using numerous, often inaccessible documents, he tried to show Poland at the time of the partitions against the background of changes taking place in Europe. His analysis shows that Poles were unable to understand modern politics, based only on the game of interests, whose masters were Frederick II and Catherine II.

Mentally still stuck in the 17th century, or even in earlier eras, weakening the state from within in the name of a misunderstood freedom of individuals, and at the same time naively believing in the promises of other states, which, when making them, had no intention of keeping them, the Poles themselves dismantled their country. Presenting this sad truth, Kalinka does not want to condemn his compatriots. Rather, by showing them mistakes and fatal omissions, he wants to make history a true lesson of life for them, allowing them to avoid similar disasters in the future.

This first reissue in over a hundred years of the work of Walerian Kalinka, an outstanding and unfairly silenced historian today, should become a contribution to reflection on the current policy of our state. Despite the tragedy of the partitions and the catastrophe that World War II was for Poland, Poles still do not seem to understand what politics is about, naively succumbing to the promises of powers that as always have no intention of fulfilling these promises. Perhaps this book will fulfill the hopes that the author placed in it and will become for readers a source of truth that is the way to freedom.

Priest Walerian Kalinka (1826-1881), lawyer and historian, secretary of Władysław Zamoyski and Adam Czartoryski, an outstanding researcher of the partition period, archivist, one of the main representatives of the Krakow school of history, as well as a clergyman spreading Catholic thought in the borderlands. Among his works whose collected editions include twelve volumes are such pioneering works as Sejm Czteroletni, Galicia and Krakow under Austrian rule, and The Last Years of the Reign of Stanisław August, whose new edition, with an introduction and additional footnotes, we give to readers.