Pan Tadeusz
by Adam Mickiewicz
Polish • Public Domain • Free to stream
Free — no signup — no ads — public domain
Pan Tadeusz (1834) by Adam Mickiewicz is Poland's national epic — twelve books of verse set in Lithuanian noble countryside during the Napoleonic wars of 1811-1812. The story follows young Tadeusz returning home to find family feuds, his childhood love Zosia, and the last great court case of the szlachta. Mickiewicz wove nostalgia, patriotism, and extraordinary detail of Polish-Lithuanian life into a poem of universal appeal. The most-read work in Polish literature, translated into over fifty languages.
About the book: Pan Tadeusz
Pan Tadeusz is an epic poem written in Polish alexandrines by the Polish poet, writer, translator and philosopher Adam Mickiewicz. It was first published by Aleksander Jełowicki on 28 June 1834 in Paris.
The story takes place over the course of five days in 1811 and two days in 1812 in the village of Soplicowo, situated within the Russian partition. It recounts the story of two feuding noble families and the love between Tadeusz Soplica of one family and Zosia of the other, alongside a spontaneous revolt of local inhabitants against the occupying Russian garrison. Mickiewicz wrote openly about the occupation because he was an exile in Paris and thus beyond the reach of Russian censorship.
The oldest cookbook in Polish, Compendium ferculorum, albo Zebranie potraw, served as an inspiration for Mickiewicz's nostalgic description of the last Old Polish feast in the poem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pan Tadeusz free to listen to?
Yes, completely free. No account, no subscription, no ads. Public domain.
Who wrote Pan Tadeusz?
Adam Mickiewicz, published 1834. One of the great works of Polish literature.
What language is this narrated in?
This book is in the original Polish, narrated by Zofia (Microsoft Polish neural voice). For the best experience, select a Polish voice in the player.