Correspondence between Gabriela from the Günthers Puyznina and Katarzyna from the Lipińskis Lewocka

Abstract

The article presents a set of three letters from Gabriela Puzynina (1815–1869) to (probably) Katarzyna Lewocka (1799–1890), preserved in the manuscript in the PAU and PAN Library in Cracow (ref. 718, k. 581–585). In addition to editing the letters and affixing their footnotes, the sketch also contains a brief overview of the woman authors’ life and work.  Also, outlined are the circumstances of their meeting and probable genesis of the letters. Particular attention is devoted to two works of Puzynina, which are discussed in the letters: Hedwig– the tragedy published a year after the death of the author, and The eighteenth century philosopher’s daughter, her lost piece. The material is treated not only as a certificate of the nineteenth-century culture, but also broadens the knowledge about interests, aspirations and language specific to women writers of the nineteenth century.