Biography

• 1846
  On the fifth May in Wola Okrzejska was born Henryk Sienkiewicz, son of Maria Cieciszowska and Jozef Sienkiewicz. It was average noble polish family - they belonged to landowners gentry who for lack of money had to move to Warsaw in 1861.
  
• 1858
  He starts education at grammar school in Warsaw, later he would change it few times and finally finish in 1866.
  
• 1866
  Henryk passes exam to Main School (Szkoła Główna) in Warsaw, first chose law, next - medicine and finally philology and history. He studies till 1871, he didn't graduated.
  
• 1869
  The first Sienkiewicz's critique-work is published and he writes his first novel "Into thin air" ("Na marne").
  
• 1872
  Henryk starts working as a journalist for Warsaw's newspaper - "Polish Newspaper" ("Gazeta Polska"). First he writes short-stories.He worked for them till 1887.
  
• 1874
  In Henryk's life appears Maria Keller, in July - solemn engagement followed by foreign travel to Paris and Brussels, in November - her father breaks off by letter (All the women of his life, there were five if them, had just one name Mary. One of them proposed to him, another was madly in love with him eventhough she was thirty years younger, and another accused him of impotence, look at Maries)
  
• 1876
  On the 19th of February Sienkiewicz goes to America as a correspondent of "Polish Newspaper". He travels round the country and writes "The letters from America". When he was staying in America (1876-78), he lived for a while in Anaheim, where he tried, together with some friends to estabilish a rural commune ( they cultivated orange trees), but in time it turned out that it wasn't the occupatin for artists and he left.
  
• 1878
  In March Sienkiewicz comes back to Europe but not to the country. He writes new short-stories about America and Polish villages.
  
• 1879
  Travel to Lviv, next - Italy. He meets Maria Szetkiewicz. Still writes short-stories.
  
• 1881
  On the 18th of January Sienkiewicz is getting married to Maria Szetkiewicz.
  
• 1882
  Since January Sienkiewicz is a chief editor of a newspaper called "Word" ("Slowo"),he also writes short-stories. In time his first child - son - Henryk Jozef is born.
  
• 1883
  Press prints his first historical novel "With fire and sword". Maria gives birth to a daughter - Jadwiga.
  
• 1884
  For reason of "With the fire and sword" 's success Sienkiewicz starts writing new historical novel titled "The Deludge" ("Potop"). His wife is very sick and he travels with her round the Europe (Italy, France, Bavaria, Meran and again Italy).
  
• 1885
  In October his wife Maria died. Henryk visits health-resorts in Italy, France and Austria (Kaltenleutgeben near Vienna).
  
• 1886
  He spend two months in Zakopane. After travel to Constantinople by Athens, Neaple, Rome, Florence.
  
• 1887
  Excursion to Litwa.Sienkiewicz starts writing third historical novel - "Wolodyjowski" ("Pan Wolodyjowski").He travels all the time - Cracow, Vienna, Belgium, England, France, Spain and Germany.
  
• 1888
  Zakopane, Kalteleutgeben,Sopot, Ostenda, Spain, Paris, Cracow and Warsaw. Great writer receives from unknown donor 15000 roubles signed:
  "For Henryk Sienkiewicz from Michal Wolodyjowski".
  
• 1889
  Sienkiewicz uses the money to establish a scholarship for atists ill with consumption , who need to go abroad for health reason. He travels all year and starts a new book - contamporary novel.
  
• 1890
  Writer finishes novel titled "Without dogma" ("Bez dogmatu"). In December arrives in Cairo in Africa.
  
• 1891
  He spends a month in Egypt, after goes to Zanzibar. The voyage is interested by deasise. He writes "The letters from Africa".
  
• 1892
  All year in travel. He meets Wolodkiewicz family and Maria Romanowska. They become engaged in Odessa.
  
• 1893
  Starts another new novel: "Polaniecki family" ("Rodzina Polanieckich"). On 11th of November Henryk Sienkiewicz gets married with Maria Romanowska. They go together to Italy and after a month she escapes to her mother.
  
• 1894
  First half a year in Italy and Kaltenleutgeben Sienkiewicz strives for divorse and writes a novel, in October finishes "Polaniecki family".
  
• 1895
  Starts "Quo vadis?" and thinks about "Teutonic Knights" ("Krzyżacy")
  
• 1896
  Finally gains divorce and finishes "Quo vadis?". Thank to profitable contract he's financially independent. June spends in Switzerland, October - in Kaltenleutgeben. He writes "Teutonic Knights" and receives the membership of Imperial Academy of Science in Petersburg (Cesarska Akademia Nauk in Petersburg).
  
• 1897-1899
  Sienkiewicz travels all the time. Since March 1899 he is a chairman of Warsaw's Cash-Desk of Prudence and Help for Man of Letters and Journalists (Kasa Przezornosci i Pomocy dla Literatow i Dziennikarzy).In September meets Maria Radziejewska.
  
• 1900
  Sienkiewicz finishes novel titled "Teutonic Knights".In July during the celebration on Jagiellonski University he receives honoris caus. He visits Zakopane, Brittany and Karlsbad. In this year he celebrates his jubilee, in many towns take place celebrations. In December the great writer receives Oblegorek - an estate as - a gift from readers.
  
• 1902
  Cracow, Switzerland and Oblegorek. The exhibition of paintings to Sienkiewicz's works.
  
• 1903
  Young writers begin campaign against Sienkiewicz becase he is against the excess of eroticism in their works.
  
• 1904
  French government gives him the Legion of Honour.On the fifth of May he gets married with Maria Babska. He writes a letter from Poles to Russian minister about the autonomy and Polish school system.
  
• 1905
  He finishes new novel - "On the field of glory" ("Na polu chwaly").
  On the 10th of December gets the Nobel Prize
  
• 1906
  He protests against antiPolish Prussian politics in a letter to Wilhelm II, Prussian king, printed in almost all Europe.
  
• 1907
  Second contemporary novel titled "Whirls" ("Wiry").
  
• 1909
  Travels round Europe - Italy, Switzerland, Austria.
  
• 1910
  In April died Helena - his sister, the last one. A novel for children - "Through the desert and jungle" ("W pustyni i w puszczy").
  
• 1911
  Starts writing "Legions" ("Legiony").
  
• 1913
  "Quo vadis" filmed twice in France and Italy.
  
• 1914
  First world war breaks out - Sienkiewicz goes to Vienna and next to Vevey - to Switzerland.
  
• 1915
  He organizes in Vevey Swiss General Committee for Help to the Victims of the War.
  
• 1916
  On the 15th of November Henryk Sienkiewicz dies.
  
• 1924
  The ashes of Henryk Sienkiewicz are brought to Warsaw and buryed in Saint John's cathedral's catacumbes.