MAGRYŚ Franciszek - Life of a peasant-activist [1932].

Lviv 1932. Library of Rural History and Culture, vol. 1. 12x19 cm, pp. (4), XVI, 236, black and white photographs in the text, cloth binding. Good condition (minor rubbing of the binding).

Memoirs of landowner Franciszek Magrysia (1846-1934), weaver, poet, social activist. For many years he worked as a community writer of Handzlówka near Łańcut. Compiled by Stefan Inglot. The foreword was written by Franciszek Bujak.

"Magrysia's memoir depicts the development of the village of Handzlówka, which is interesting because it is primarily the work of the landowners themselves, with the help of the parish priest Rev. Krakowski. (...) Today, when resentment against the peasant is spreading in Poland, distrust of his intelligence, and disbelief in his importance to the state and the nation, Magrysia's memoirs testify to the high mental and moral value of our people, their persistent striving for culture and progress, and their ability to make independent efforts in this direction. Whoever doubts the future of the countryside, whoever fears for the fate of Poland, should pick up this book and find encouragement and comfort in it. The work of communal self-government and village economic and cultural self-help described in it must inspire appreciation and admiration in the intelligent reader, and enthusiasm and desire to emulate in the young landowner." [excerpt from the preface]