Acknowledgments
The translation of this book, originally published in Polish in 2019, was possible thanks to the financial support from the state budget within the framework of the program implemented by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, called the National Programme for the Development of the Humanities, under contract number NPRH/U21/SP/507137/2021/11 (Universalia 2.1). The subsidy amount is 84 720 PLN the total value of the project is 111 070 PLN.
I would like to express my gratitude to the team at Grupa Mowa for their professional preparation of the English translation, with special thanks to Jan BurzyÅski and MikoÅaj Golubiewski.
This book is the result of many years of work, during which I was fortunate to receive the help and support of numerous individuals. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues at the Department of Romantic Literature and Tradition within the Faculty of Philology at the University of Åódź â particularly Jerzy Brzozowski, Krystyna Pietrych, and Tomasz CieÅlak â for their generosity and for fostering an environment that greatly supported my intellectual growth.
I also wish to thank the scholars with whom I had the opportunity to discuss the book at various stages of its development. These insightful readers of early drafts generously shared their ideas (some of them foundational), critical feedback, expertise, and their time: Anna Barcz, PrzemysÅaw CzapliÅski, Anna KaÅuża, Katarzyna KoÅczal, Katarzyna KuczyÅska-Koschany, Piotr Mitzner, Joanna Roszak, Bożena Shallcross, Marta Tomczok, and Joanna Å»ygowska.
Finally, I want to thank those closest to me â my family and friends, both human and non-human â thank you for your love, support, and unwavering belief in me, especially during moments when I struggled to believe in myself.