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The Warmian Restoration (1860) is a humorous novel depicting the life of the Slovak nobility (zemans) in the 19th century, their petty intrigues, vanity, disputes over inheritance, and futile attempts to "restorate" the old, decaying nobility.
The work is a satirical picture of the life of the Slovak petty nobility (zemans) in the second half of the 19th century. Kalinčiak humorously and with mild irony depicts their world – futile discussions, feasts, petty intrigues, lawsuits over inheritance, vanity and complete inability for any serious work or social progress. The title Restoration has a double meaning: it refers both to the political restoration of the old order after 1848 and to the “restoration” (renewal) of the declining nobility that ends in a ridiculous failure.
Kalinčiak masterfully caricatures types: boasters, usurers, drunkards, court experts and “politicians” of the village rank. Although the satire is sharp, the author remains gentle and humane – his characters are not evil, but funny and pathetic in their smallness. The work is full of lively dialogue, folk humor and Slovak color.
In Slovak literature, Reštavrácia is considered one of the most successful humorous works of the 19th century and an important transitional work between romanticism and realism. In Croatia in 1931, it was very well received as an entertaining and instructive satire on the petty bourgeoisie and the declining nobility.
The style is lively, dynamic and easy to read. The work is still relevant today because the satire on the vanity, corruption and senselessness of petty powerful people has not lost its power. This 1931 edition is a rare and sought-after antiquarian edition.
One copy is available
