At all times people have sought to glorify their homeland: they have dedicated poems, paintings, scientific works and discoveries to it. Poles are no exception. They work in different spheres of cultural and scientific activity, but they dedicate all their achievements to Poland. Many representatives of this great power have become luminaries of world art, science, religion, society and politics. Their lives and works are an integral part of Polish history and culture. They are the national pride and spiritual heritage of the state.
Who are these great people whose names have made the Polish people famous all over the world? The list should start with the Nobel Prize winners.
Maria Curie-Skłodowska (Maria Curie-Skłodowska)
Outstanding Polish scientist in physics and chemistry. Maria is the only woman to have won the Nobel Prize twice. In 1903, she was honoured in physics for her study of radioactivity. Maria received the second prize for her discovery of the chemical elements: polonium and radium. Which was a huge step in the development of atomic physics. Maria Skłodowska-Curie died of an illness caused by contact with radioactive substances. She is buried in the Pantheon in Paris.
Henryk Sienkiewicz (Henryk Sienkiewicz)
Polish writer. His work played a major role in the history of Polish culture and was internationally recognised. In 1905, Sienkiewicz received the Nobel Prize for Literature "for his outstanding services in creative work". His historical works have been translated into more than 40 foreign languages and also screened. The best known are Krzyżacy (The Crusaders), Ogniemi mieczem (Fire and Sword), Potop (The Flood), Pan Wołodyjowski (Pan Wołodyjowski) and the novel Quo vadis. After Poland's independence, Henryk Sienkiewicz's works were included in the school curriculum. They are still very popular today.
Władysław Reymont (Władysław Reymont)
A famous Polish poet and writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1924. Władysław Reymont became world famous with his four-volume epic novel "Muzhiki" ("Chłopi"). It is an encyclopaedia of folk life, describing the everyday life of Polish peasants.
Czesław Miłosz (Czesław Miłosz)
Polish poet, writer, translator and literary critic. In 1980, Milosz received the Nobel Prize for Literature. Czesław Miłosz's poetry is filled with autobiographical themes and memories of emigration, where he spent most of his life.
Lech Wałęsa (Lech Wałęsa)
Popular Polish politician, founder of the Polish Solidarity movement. From 1990 to 1995, he served as head of the Polish Republic. Lech Wałęsa played an important role in breaking the post-war order in Europe and ending the Cold War. In 1983, Lech Walesa's contribution to the development of peace was highly appreciated worldwide. For this he was awarded the Nobel Prize.
Wisława Szymborska (Wisława Szymborska)
Renowned Polish poet, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature (1996), translator from French. All her works are full of pessimism about the future of mankind, but in an ironic form.
Józef Rotblat (Józef Rotblat)
British physicist and radiobiologist, social activist, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts towards nuclear disarmament (1995). Rotblat did not make our list by mistake. This renowned scientist was born in Warsaw to a family of Polish Jews. Here he was also educated and successfully defended his doctoral thesis. The young and talented physicist began his journey in the radiological laboratory of the Warsaw Scientific Association. But life made its adjustments and in 1939 he left Poland. The scientist moved to England for permanent residence. Where in 1946 he received British citizenship.
Olga Tokarczuk (Olga Tokarczuk)
"Star" of contemporary Polish literature. On 10 October 2019, the Nobel Committee awarded Olga the 2018 Prize for Literature. Tokarczuk's world fame was brought by her novel The Runners. It is a kind of literary monograph of travelling around the globe and the human body, for which she won the international Booker Prize. The prize is awarded for the best foreign novel translated into English.
We have only told you about some of the famous Poles. But there are still many Polish names among those who worked for their country and wanted to raise the prestige of Poland to the world level. Our next article will be about these great and famous people.
