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The Sarmatian Review THE SARMATIAN REVIEW Vol. XXIX, No. 2 April 2009 Tradition and the Contemporary Talent The first page (in the original Latin) of Polish historian Wincenty Kadłubek’s History of Poland (13th c.) The first printed edition by Jan Szcz∏sny Herburt (1612) was reprinted without changes by Heinrich Huyssen in 1712, as reproduced above. Courtesy of the Woodson Research Center at Rice University. Photo by Philip Montgomery. 1460 SARMATIAN REVIEW April 2009 The Sarmatian Review (ISSN 1059- BOOKS Books . .1481 scholar’s labor. The second seeks 5872) is a triannual publication of the Polish Institute Kimitaka Matsuzato, History and innovation in the work discussed, and of Houston. The journal deals with Polish, Central, the possibility of a new interpretation. and Eastern European affairs, and it explores their Geopolitics: A Contest for Eastern implications for the United States. We specialize in Europe (review). .1481 Professor McQuillen’s analysis of the translation of documents.Sarmatian Review is Stanisław Wyspiaƒski’s monumental indexed in the American Bibliography of Slavic and James E. Reid, Katyƒ: A film East European Studies, EBSCO, and P.A.I.S. directed and written by Andrzej play offers a nontraditional International Database. From January 1998 on, files Wajda (review) . .1483 interpretation; mutatis mutandis, it in PDF format are available at the Central and Eastern plays the same role regarding that play European Online Library (www.ceeol.com). Theresa Kurk McGinley, Ameri- Subscription price is $21.00 per year for individuals, can Betrayal (review) . .1485 that the hero of Gombrowicz’s $28.00 for institutions and libraries ($28.00 for About the Authors . .1486 Ferdydurke played with regard to individuals, $35.00 for libraries overseas, air mail). Polish Romanticism. The views expressed by authors of articles do not Thank You Note . 1486 necessarily represent those of the Editors or of the Announcements & Notes . 1486 During the process of translation Polish Institute of Houston. Articles are subject to and editing of Adam Mickiewicz’s editing. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials First Lecture at Coll ge de France, are not returned unless accompanied by a self- From the Editor è addressed and stamped envelope. Please submit your it was discovered that in the edition rofessor Domaƒski’s article contribution electronically and, if requested, send a of Mickiewicz’s Lectures published printout by air mail. Submissions and Letters to the about thirteenth-century Polish P in Soviet-occupied Poland in 1974 Editor can be e-mailed to <[email protected]>, with historian Wincenty Kadłubek an accompanying mailing return address. Other letters several slight but significant prompts two reflections. First, the and subscription queries should be emailed to changes were introduced. The <[email protected]>. Subscription term national character, so frowned “People’s Poland” text was checks should be mailed to upon in academia, has more compared with one edited by The Sarmatian Review, P. O. Box 79119, gravitas than scholars are willing to Houston, Texas 77279–9119. Professor Manfred Kridl and admit. Propped by its literary and The Sarmatian Review retains the copyright for all published in the Second Polish materials included in print and online issues. Copies intellectual heritage, it handily Republic in 1929. The readers of for personal or educational use are permitted by section condenses the self-image of a nation 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Permission Sarmatian Review are receiving the and the perceived continuity of its to redistribute, republish, or use SR materials in adjusted text. Professor BoÏena advertising or promotion must be submitted in writing value system. In his delineation of Shallcross, who translated the to the Editor. virtues appropriate for a ruler, Editor: Ewa Thompson (Rice University). lecture, deserves our appreciation Kadłubek assigned priority to Associate Editors: Tamara Trojanowska (University for making this text available in of Toronto), Bogdan Czaykowski, 1932–2007 mercy and charity, as do the (University of British Columbia). English for the first time. subsequent Polish historians Editorial Advisory Committee: George Gasyna A review by Japan’s leading (University of Illinois-Urbana), Janusz A. Ihnatowicz starting with Jan Długosz in the Slavicist of a book by a leading (University of Saint Thomas-Houston), Božena fifteenth century. Was not Karwowska (University of British Columbia), Joseph Polish historian, Andrzej Nowak, Władysław Jagiełło’s mercy toward A.Kotarba (University of Houston), Alex Kurczaba demonstrates the necessity of (University of Illinois-Chicago), Marcus D. Leuchter, the Teutonic Knights (1410), or Jan making Polish scholarly works 1909–2008 (Holocaust Museum Houston),Witold J. Sobieski’s charity toward fellow Lukaszewski (Sam Houston State University), Theresa available to scholars worldwide, Catholics in Vienna (1683) a Kurk McGinley (North Harris College-Houston), while at the same time presenting Michael J. MikoÊ(University of Wisconsin- manifestation of Kadłubek’s Milwaukee), Jan Rybicki (Kraków Pedagogical to American Slavicists (as well as recommendation? The ranking of University), Dariusz Skórczewski (Catholic University to Americans of Polish background) of Lublin), Piotr Wilczek (University of Warsaw). virtues performed over and over by the image of Poland as perceived by Copy Editor: Cyndy Brown Polish historians, writers, Web Pages: Lisa Spiro (Rice University). a disinterested observer from a theologians, and public figures was Web Address: <http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~sarmatia>. geographical distance. both didactic and reflective of reality. Finally, James Reid’s review of In this issue: Readers will doubtless note a the movie Katyƒ speaks of the SR Data . 1461 difference between the writing style consequences of the German attack Juliusz Domaƒski, Justice and mercy in of Professors Domaƒski and Wincenty Kadłubek’s system of political on Poland in 1939—forty-five years McQuillen. The first is pre- virtues . 1463 of Soviet occupation, and lies about Enlightenment: it searches for Colleen McQuillen, Sanctity or Sanctimony history and society that became sources, similarities, and in Stanisław Wyspiaƒski’s Acropolis. .1468 standard fare in scholarly books and background while skimping on Adam Mickiewicz, First Lecture in Collège at universities, as well as in daily de France, translated and annotated by conclusions, and it does not try to social life. Was it Joseph Goebbels BoÏena Shallcross . .1476 hide the imperfect seams of a (Continued on page 1485 ) April 2009 SARMATIAN REVIEW 1461 Sarmatian Review Data Hedge funds in 2008 Number of hedge funds worldwide in 2008: about ten thousand. Amount of capital they controlled: 200 billion dollars. Percentage of hedge funds operating from London and New York (including its environs): 20 percent and 40 percent, respectively. Difference between hedge funds and other investment funds: hedge funds are said to “enjoy lighter regulation and considerably greater freedom of action than the investment companies that advertise in the financial pages.” Source: “An Address in Mayfair: Donald MacKenzie on Hedge Funds,” London Review of Books, 4 December 2008. European economy in 2008 recession Fall of GNP in select EU countries in the fourth quarter of 2008: Germany, -2.1 percent (estimated loss for 2009, -3.6 percent); France, -1.2 percent; Italy, -1.8 percent; Holland, -0.9 percent; UK, -1.5 percent; Estonia, - 9.4 percent; Czech Republic, -0.6 percent; Hungary, -1.0 percent (estimated drop in 2009: 3.5–5.0 percent). Source: Rzeczpospolita, 12 February 2009; BBC News, 13 February 2009. Poland is doing well in the crisis so far Increase in Polish GDP in the last quarter of 2008 (year-on-year): 3.1 percent. Source: Eurostat, as reported by Michał Pawlak in Donosy, no. 4848 (6 March 2009). Increase in car sales in Poland in February 2009: 13.3 percen in comparison to January 2009; 7.2 percent in comparison to February 2008. Source: Michał Jankowski in Donosy, no. 4847 (5 March 2009). Is “New Europe” sovereign? Percentage of “emerging Europe” bank assets owned by Western European banks: 80 percent. Source: Peter Attard Montalto in Financial Times, 16 February 2009. Global crisis and Russia Russian stock market losses in May and October 2008: 2,487 points and 550 points, respectively (a loss of approximately 80 percent). Fall in Russian industrial production in November 2008: 8.7 percent in comparison to November 2007, 7.5 percent in comparison with October 2008. Drop in standard of living in November 2008 in comparison to November 2007: 6.2 percent (2.9 percent in comparison to October 2008). Source: Ekaterina Mereminskaia, “Otlozhennye nadezhdy,” <gazeta.ru>, 30 December 2008. Gazprom and the Russian budget Gazprom’s contribution to the Russian Federation’s budget in 2008: 20 percent, or 90 billion dollars. Gazprom’s anticipated drop in profits due to the lower price for gas in 2009: 20 billion dollars. Domestic prices for Gazprom gas in comparison to prices EU members pay for Russian gas: 15 to 20 percent of prices paid by Western European consumers. Source: Daily Telegraph, 7 January 2009. Economic crisis and the daily press Newspapers likely to close or go digital in the next eighteen months due to financial problems: Philadelphia Daily News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Miami Herald, Detroit News, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Sun Times, NY Daily News, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Cleveland Plain
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