Rzymskie powieści Józefa Ignacego Kraszewskiego jako literackie źródło Quo vadis? Henryka Sienkiewicza

The article analyses the common elements which exist between Rzym za Nerona (Rome under Nero) by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski (1817–1882) and Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1916); in particular, it aims to bring to light the possible influences of Rzym za Nerona on Quo Vadis and its contribution to the genesis of the Sienkiewicz’s novel. In the mid-19th century and early 20th century European intellectuals and writers made a real rediscovery of the times of Nero and the pagan-Christian conflict. That trend was also visible in Poland, where both novels mentioned used the ancient Rome times as a metaphor to represent the contemporary world. The fall of Rome was always hailed as the fall of the powers which kept Poland enslaved and divided. It is a well-known fact that the unhappy fate of enslaved and oppressed Poland underlies the genesis of Quo Vadis.