The Troubles of a Gnome
The Troubles of a Gnome is a children's book by Zofia Kossak-Szczucka. First published in 1926, the novel is set in Cieszyn Silesia and features the titular gnome, Kacperek. According to some literary scholars, it is considered "one of the most beautiful Polish fairy tales". It has been included in compulsory reading lists for younger children since 2021.
Editions and translations
This was Zofia Kossak's third book and the only work she wrote for children. The author wrote the book for her children, Julka and Tadzio, who also appear in the story.The first edition was published in 1926 by. Subsequent editions appeared in 1938, 1946, 1958, 1968, 1985, 1996, 2004, 2008, and 2019. In 1928, the book was translated into English by A & C Black in London. The book has been illustrated by various artists over the years; the first edition featured illustrations by, and other illustrators included,, Krystyna Gorecka-Wencel,, Katarzyna Słowiańska, Joanna Ciombor,, and Bartłomiej Grudzień.
Plot
The action of the novel is set in the Cieszyn Silesia. The titular gnome, Kacperek, is the "good spirit" of the manor in Górki Wielkie, where he has lived since its establishment. Kacperek frequently battles with the demon Sato, who resides on a nearby hill. The story features other fantastical characters, such as Hlacz Chlustacz, the ruler of the river, and lesser gnomes and sprites invented by the author. At one point, Sato steals Kacperek's magical earring and then kidnaps him; his friends come to his rescue.Reception and analysis
Even before the war, after the publication of the English edition, Austrian literary historian praised the book, writing that "it is one of the most beautiful fairy tales in the world".In 2004, philologist described the book as "one of the most beautiful Polish fairy tales". That same year, a book titled Wokół „Kłopotów Kacperka góreckiego skrzata” Zofii Kossak: materiały dla nauczycieli przedszkoli i szkół podstawowych was published. Referring to this, Barbara Pytlos wrote in the journal that the book, combined with educational materials, could teach children history, geography, and mathematics. Pytlos also positively evaluated the graphic aspect of the 2004 edition, praising Joanna Ciombor's illustrations. She also referred to the analysis by literary scholar, included in the preface to this edition. Heska-Kwaśniewicz also considered this book to be the most beautiful Polish fairy tale, calling it a "masterpiece of its genre" and praised the book as a "lesson in honesty and patriotism and an unforgettable adventure" and described its language as a "model of beauty, correctness, and simplicity".
In 2015, literary scholar Michał Borodo analyzed the English translation of the book, which he considered a "truly Polish fairy tale, with a deeply religious undertone, written in beautiful, occasionally slightly archaic Polish". He noted the importance that the main character – the titular gnome Kacperek – attaches to Polishness and God. Borodo also observed that for some unexplained reasons, the English translation removed the character's name, turning him into an "anonymous gnome". Borodo emphasized that the book contains numerous and positive references to Poland and its history, and "is an example of a text that could potentially contribute to a positive image of Poland in English-speaking countries" if it had been published in more than one edition.
In 2020, presented an analysis of the work in her book Zmysły i literatura dla dzieci i młodzieży ''. According to the literary scholar, it is a fairy tale containing features of both folk and literary fairy tales. She praised the "masterful" descriptive passages of nature and characters, and the book's language, noting the emphasis on colors, hues, and scents, as well as the inventive names of the fantastic creatures created by the author. She also noted, however, that certain parts of the book are meant to evoke horror and disgust in the reader. The struggle between Kacperek and Sato is seen as a classic motif of the battle between good and evil. Heska-Kwaśniewicz also pointed out the religious layer of the work. She included the book's educational value in her assessment, noting its regional description of the Cieszyn Silesia area, writing that the book "can still serve as an excellent guide to Cieszyn Silesia".''
In the same year, Wojciech Gołąbowski reviewed the book for the zine , considering it a "beautifully illustrated story... about the struggle between good and evil", as well as "about overcoming one's own weaknesses. About the importance of not serving evil. About the futility of pretending that evil does not concern us, will not affect us, or leave us alone. About the value of having friends, being kind to others. About how even the greatest coward can find courage within himself".
The book was included as required reading for grades 1–3 of primary school in 2021 and remained so in 2024/2025. Referring to the inclusion of the book on the reading list, the author's grandson, literary scholar, considered the book "wonderful", but at the same time, "difficult for most children today due to its complex, though beautiful, language", and considered the recent addition of several of Kossak-Szczucka's works to the reading list as an "ideological-political operation". Journalist Wojciech Szot also criticized the inclusion of the book on the reading list, calling it outdated and anti-German, as well as anti-Silesian. At the same time, according to Anna Józefowicz, the Ministry of National Education justified the inclusion of the book on the reading list as a work intended to "strengthen regional identity".
According to Zofia Ozaist-Zgodzińska, writing in 2022, the book is intended for younger children and those raised before World War II.
In 2023, Jacek Podsiadło criticized the book, considering the fantasy novel The Ruins of Gorlan by Australian writer John Flanagan as a more valuable work. He ironically described Kossak-Szczucka's works as "perfectly suited by the Minister of Education to the interests of the modern student", such as "the carrying capacity of hens or the richness of plant cover"''.''