On Ewa Sobiewska’s Vilnius Saga: Between Fairy Taile, Romance, and Historical Plausibility

Abstract

The article examines the series of novels by Ewa Sobieniewska commonly referred to as the Vilnius saga. The cycle comprises four works published between 2022 and 2025: Srebrne wrzeciono (The Silver Spindle), Zaklęte zwierciadło (The Enchanted Mirror), Czarna sukienka (The Black Dress), and Nocny welon (The Night Veil). The narrative is predominantly set in the 19th century, with the genealogical background of the Słoczyński and Łempicki families extending into the 17th century. In accordance with the conventions of the family saga genre, the novels portray the intertwined destinies of multiple generations and kinship networks. A dual spatial framework is maintained throughout the series, juxtaposing the Kingdom of Poland (specifically, the Sandomierz region) with historical Lithuania. A key historical reference point for the narrative is the January Uprising of 1863–1864, which constitutes the principal political and social context against which the protagonists’ experiences unfold. The plot is focalised through female characters – Polish noblewomen confronted with existential dilemmas and forced to navigate conditions of political oppression. Sobieniewska’s saga merits scholarly attention owing to its compelling narrative structure and meticulously constructed historical setting, rooted in interdisciplinary knowledge of history, psychology, and social customs. Furthermore, the cycle demonstrates the enduring capacity of Vilnius to serve as a site of literary imagination, imbued with elements of the marvellous and the romanticised past.