Customer Reviews (2)

Peasants/Autumn
I read the first volume of Reymont's epic novel, "The Peasants", in English.The four volumes of the set are chronologically titled "Autumn", "Winter", "Spring", and "Summer"."Autumn" was a book I found in a Denver used book store a few years ago.They only had two of the other three volumes so I decided to just get the first one at the time.I finally read "Autumn" when I had an opportunity to return to Denver.The book was very good but, alas, that used book store is no more.That's too bad because I am anxious to see how things proceed with the family that "Autumn" acquainted me with.

This book appears to portray a realistic view of the Polish rural peasant society at a time roughly 100 years ago.There are a number of characters of varying castes who interact with one another.The focal point of this volume is a May/September marriage between a reasonably large farm owner and a young maiden from a poor family.The descriptions of the engagement, wedding, and seemingly endless celebration are quite enjoyable.

One rather disturbing aspect of the book is the rampent anti-Semiticism.The Jewish characters in the book are referred to in many various deragetory ways.It may help explain why the English version of the book is so hard to come by.This sort of thing may well be indicative of the time and place but it is politically incorrect nowadays.Whether that is right or wrong is not my point.In all fairness, the many Jewish/Yiddish accounts of that time and place that I have read (in English) convey a similar disdain for the Gentiles.In writing of Poland of a century ago, it would be erasing history to try to pretend that there wasn't such a conflict between the two cultures.

Reymont won the Nobel Prize for Literature on the strength of this epic novel.If you can get a hold of it, don't pass it up; even if it's only one volume.

Nobel prize in literature winner and well deserved.
This book is probably the best account of the lives of Polish peasants inearly 20th century.I have read both the original Polish and the Englishtranslation and I can honestly say this is one of the best books I haveever read.Reymont is a master of the written word.Book well worthreading, story you'll likely never forget, overall, superb work ofliterature. ... Read more