Now the Polish village which inspired the novel is getting ready to celebrate the grand occasion.
News of the award first came on November 13, 1924. It was a monumental moment for the nation as Poland had just recently returned to the maps of Europe and the world in the fall of 1918. After 123 years of suffering the trials and tribulations of a nation denied the basic right to exist, the country once again took its rightful place among the other European nations.
Therefore, Władysław Stanisław Reymont became the first Nobel Prize winner of an independent Poland. An extraordinary feat, considering that at the time, some European politicians were arguing that Poland shouldn’t be a separate state. Yet contradictory to these notions- the whole world had just received a strong message - that this nation held positions of prominence, even in the field of culture, creating works of literature so great they resonated around the world and deserved the highest awards.
The author however, upon learning of his distinction, didn’t comment on the matter in a way expected of one who had just been distinguished on the world stage. Reymont was ill at the time and was not able to travel to Stockholm to personally receive the award. In a letter to a friend, he wrote: "Terrible! This Nobel Prize, the money, worldwide fame and a man who cannot undress without getting very tired. This is the real irony of life.” He would pass away a year later in 1925.
And yet it was life that Reymont so beautifully and skillfully depicted on the pages of his four-volume novel “The Peasants”. The life of 19th century Polish peasants, their customs and traditions, set against the backdrop of the seasons of the year, is so masterfully described by Reymont that the reader can imagine and “see” the vivid and vibrant landscape of the village. Descriptions of nature are so poetic they sparkle with lifelike and realistic details. The book has since been adapted into movies three times, the most recent being in 2023. It was produced using a painted animation technique and went on to become Poland’s highest-grossing film that year.
It may come as a surprise, but the picturesque village presented in “The Peasants” really does exist. Lipce (later renamed to Lipce Reymontowskie) is a small village located between Łódz and Warsaw in central Poland. It takes about an hour to get there by train from Warsaw. This is where Władysław Reymont lived during the years 1888- 1891 and worked at the local train station for the Warsaw-Vienna railway.
Lipce was where he meticulously observed the life and customs of 19th century Polish peasants. Reymont attended weddings in the village which he went on to describe in detail in the first part of his novel. He presented the village’s traditions in the example of the lavish wedding between two fictional characters of the book, Maciej Boryna and the beautiful and much younger Jagna Paczesiówna.
Every year, on Reymont’s Day, which takes place in the summer and is dedicated to the famous author, special events take place in the village and promote the work of the Polish writer. Previous editions have included the special "Retro" train, meant to look like the ones that would have passed through Lipce when Reymont lived there, which brought in passengers from Łódź. Concerts, plays, folk art fairs as well as exhibitions dedicated to the Nobel laureate await each year for those wishing to participate. This year, on Saturday, June 15, Lipce Reymontowskie will celebrate the centenary of the awarding of the Nobel prize to Reymont and feature many attractions. Perfect for a day trip.
For those wanting to explore even more, an abundance of places and things associated with or dedicated to the writer can be found in the village. For starters, there is the brick lineman's house where Reymont lived while working for the railway. Reymont’s Center, an open-air museum, made up of old farm buildings, cottages, a cowshed, a barn and a granary is up next. This place allows one to imagine just how 19th century peasants lived and worked.
Right next to Reymont’s Center is the Regional Museum in Lipce named after him. Inside visitors will find things related to the culture and history of Lipce and neighboring towns, as well as traditional folk costumes, and of course, exhibits related to the life and work of the author.
The privately owned Gallery of Antiques and Regional Souvenirs holds farm equipment and furniture one would find in 19th century cottages in the region, religious objects and items related to local folklore. The area surrounding Lipce Reymontowskie with green fields and country landscapes is also great for trips and enjoying nature.
The lush, green nature present in and around Lipce is also described in “The Peasants”. The book, even though written over 100 years ago, carries a universal message and values. The characters of the novel live in accordance with the seasons of the year- in harmony with nature. This is a universal truth- the same for people all around the world and resonates in their souls. Contemporary civilization should look to nature- try to protect it, skillfully govern it and not destroy it. Work with it and not against it. Such a message is relevant in the many years to come. It proves Władysław Reymont’s literary genius and his keen observing skills. 100 years after receiving the Nobel Prize – timeless.
