Kilka uwag o księgach, nie tylko uczonych, w prozie Andrzeja Sapkowskiego

Abstract

Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels are not typical “books about books”. However, both The Witcher cycle and The Hussite Trilogy abound in themes associated with them. The characters read, own book collections, they themselves are authors of various works. From the titles listed in individual texts, one could compile quite an extensive bibliography. This fact encourages a description of the way various texts exist in the world presented by the creator of The Witcher. Education of a young protagonist is a good opportunity to present books one reads, and the use of this readings in further life. Contrary to what the reader would expect, the book collections he learns about do not belong to universities. As for the library in Oxenfurt, we only know its roof, which is used by poet Jaskier, wanting to free himself from the spies following him. The scholarly books can be found in various places, even in a hut in a remote area (behind a curtain of dubious purity), inhabited by the scholar in exile — Vysogota from Corvo. Not only universities and scholars (including wizards) have impressive book collections. Duchess Anarietta, who hosts the witcher and his team, has a huge library in her palace in Toussaint. The subject of banned books appears in The Hussite Trilogy, so the hidden library motif is the obvious motive. Some protagonists of The Witcher cycle are authors of books. It is worth emphasizing that the reader has the opportunity to learn at least fragments of the mentioned works. They are also read by other characters. Quotes from the characters’ works also appear in mottoes.