The image of Russia and Russians in the works of Józef Kraszewski in the Late 1860s

The article examines the image of Russia and Russians in the works of the Polish writer Józef Ignacy Kraszewski during the period following the suppression of the January Uprising, specifically in the second half of the 1860s. It explores how the events of 1863—1864, the repressive measures of the Tsarist authorities after the uprising, and the policy of Russification in the Kingdom of Poland were reflected in Kraszewski’s literary works. Special attention is given to the various types of Russian characters depicted in the author’s novels. Despite the predominance of negative portrayals of Russian military personnel and government officials, Kraszewski’s writings also contain positive depictions of ordinary Russian people, characterized by their basic humanity.