International readers choose "The Doll" as best Polish book ever

International readers have crowned Bolesław Prus's "The Doll" the greatest Polish book ever written, according to a Goodreads ranking. The 19th-century social novel, which depicts Warsaw society and the unrequited love of merchant Stanisław Wokulski for aristocrat Izabela Łęcka, was praised by Well.pl as a "pearl of European realism – romantic, melancholic, and devilishly intelligent" for foreign audiences.

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For foreigners, it is a pearl of European realism – romantic, melancholic, and devilishly intelligent.

Following "The Doll" in the rankings was Witold Gombrowicz's avant-garde novel "Ferdydurke." Published in 1937, the book satirizes traditional notions of maturity by following a 30-year-old writer who is sent back to a gimnazjum class. Well.pl notes that Gombrowicz is considered a "phenomenon" for readers fascinated by postmodernism.

Rounding out the top three was Andrzej Sapkowski's "The Witcher: Blood of Elves." This 1994 novel, the first in the popular series, tells the story of Geralt, a witcher who becomes the guardian of the young Ciri. The book is described as a blend of magic, moral dilemmas, and political intrigue, offering a "fresh gust of fantasy with a Slavic flavor" for fans of authors like Tolkien and Martin.

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For foreign readers, especially those fascinated by postmodernism, Gombrowicz is a phenomenon.

The top ten list also featured other notable Polish works, including Stanisław Lem's "Solaris," Henryk Sienkiewicz's "Quo Vadis," Bruno Schulz's "Cinnamon Shops," Aleksander Kamiński's "Stones for the Barricade," and Sławomir Mrożek's "Tango." Several books from "The Witcher" series also made the list, underscoring Sapkowski's international appeal.

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For fans of Tolkien and Martin, it is a fresh gust of fantasy with a Slavic flavor.