Description

The novel “The Doll” was first published in a newspaper in installments. Fragment by fragment, the work depicts Warsaw of 1878–1879: its way of life, social norms, and inhabitants. In this love story, we romantically follow the breakup and a man’s search for his place in the real world.

The novel is a panorama of Polish society at the end of the 19th century, depicting conflicts between the aristocracy, the bourgeoisie, and the common people.

The main character, Stanisław Wokulski (a successful merchant), is hopelessly in love with the beautiful but cold aristocrat, Izabela Łęcka. His love is a struggle between progressive ideals and an obsolete social hierarchy. The Doll is considered one of the principal works of Polish Realism and remains compulsory reading in schools to this day.