„Długie trwanie” pomyłek (Maria Konopnicka, Maria Bartusówna, Napoleon Ekielski, Florentyna Niewiarowska)

Abstract

The article proposes that the origins of humanists’ errors are material (incomplete sources) and psychological (the imperfectness of the researcher’s mind, a disregard of responsibilities and of the state of research). Through examples of the editing of the works by Maria Konopnicka, the paper demonstrates how editors made mistakes, which have been duplicated in editions of her texts for over one hundred years. Using the works of Maria Bartusówna, Napoleon Ekielski and Florentyna Niewiarowska as an example, the article also highlights how incorrect bio-bibliographical information is unquestioningly carried forward into subsequent publications, and how it is popularised through the Internet. A mistake in attribution made once leads to irreversible results of erroneous interpretations of works. It also affects the appreciation of particular authors.