He made his debut on the pages of Zabawy Przyjemne i Pożyteczne (Games Pleasant and Useful), the first Polish literary magazine, which played a significant role in shaping readers’ tastes and influenced the political mood of the whole generation. From 1770 onwards, his odes, idylls, satires, fairy tales and epigrams were published there. In 1771, Naruszewicz took over the post of the head editor of the magazine. He had a very high position in the literary world of the period, as evidenced by the praise poems addressed to him by such prominent figures as Karpiński, Kniaźnin, Trembecki, Węgierski and Zabłocki.
Naruszewicz was one of the most important participants of the King of Poland Stanisław August’s Thursday Lunches. He received many awards and distinctions from the hands of the Head of State. In 1772, at the king's request, a medal with the image of Naruszewicz was minted. He was also honoured with the Order of St. Stanislaus, the White Eagle and the ‘Merentibus’ medal. It is not surprising, therefore, that in 1778, only eight years after his first publication, he lived to see the publication of a four-volume collection of his Works, consisting of over 900 pages.
The works adored during the poet's lifetime were met with crushing criticism after his death. Naruszewicz, always placed on a pedestal next to Krasicki, became in time an example of anti-talent. He was accused, above all, of a lack of taste, panegyrism, crudeness and complicated syntax. He was criticised by Osiński, Euzebiusz Słowacki, Koźmian, Brodziński and even Kraszewski.
His poetry is characterised by didacticism, a moralising tone, rhetoric, and distance and restraint in expressing the poetic self. Naruszewicz's poetry combines both the pursuit of rhetorical, solemn expression and the struggle against patterns in language. In his poetry, classicist tendencies are intertwined with a baroque style. Some characteristic motifs in his lyrics include celestial spheres, the cosmos and the boundaries of cognition. He was fascinated by the possibilities of technology (such as in his ode to the Balloon).
He was most appreciated for his Satires, which are undeniable proof of Naruszewicz's talent and in which he presented his imagination, wit and accurate irony. The theme of Satires is strongly rooted in the moral and political realities of the Enlightenment. Here, Naruszewicz lets his inspiration run free. In a very uninhibited manner, he takes revenge on those whom he had to flatter for years. He criticises the behaviour of the nobility, anarchy, moral corruption, the darkness of society and fashionable foreign lands.
Originally written in Polish by Joanna Szulczewska, December 2007 for the internet project ‘Anthology of Polish Poetry from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century’ according to the concept of Piotr Matywiecki, translated into English by P. Grabowski, December 2020
Poetry:
- Works vol. 1-4, edited by Franciszek Bohomolec in collaboration with the author, Warsaw 1778.
- Wybór Poezyj z Dołączeniem Kilku Pism Prozą oraz Listów (Selection of Poetry Including a few Prose writings and Letters), S. Lewental's edition and print, Warsaw 1882, Library of the Most Valuable Works of Polish Literature.
- Satires, compiled by: Stanisław Grzeszczuk, Ossoliński National Institute, Wrocław 1962, National Library Series I No. 179.
- Selected Lyrics, selection and introduction: Juliusz Wiktor Gomulicki, State Publishing Institute, Warsaw 1964, Library of Poets.
- Poems, introduction: Barbara Wolska, Biblioteka Publishing House, Łódź 2001.
- Satires, editor: Barbara Wolska, Society of Authors and Publishers of Scientific Works Universitas, Kraków 2002, Polish Library.