The Greatest Polish Literature
This selection encompasses Polish literature in all literary forms, genres and periods. It includes works acclaimed by readers, writers, critics and scholars in Poland and around the world.
The Greatest Polish Literature focuses on major creative works—such as novels, novellas, plays, long poetry and collections.
You may also be interested in The Greatest Eastern European Literature or The Greatest German Literature.
This list is updated as new works are discovered and appreciation of older works evolves. Please note the revision date when citing the list.
Latest update: October 26, 2025
The 33 greatest works of Polish literature
1776
The Adventures of Mr. Nicholas Wisdom
by Ignacy Krasicki, Poland
Novel, originally Mikołaja Doświadczyńskiego przypadki
1779
Fables and Parables
by Ignacy Krasicki, Poland
Poetry collection
1805–1847
The Manuscript Found in Saragossa
by Jan Potocki, Poland
Story collection, originally Manuscrit trouvé à Saragosse
1834
Sir Thaddeus, or the Last Foray in Lithuania
by Adam Mickiewicz, Poland
Epic poem; also known as Master Thaddeus, subtitled A Nobility's Tale of the Years 1811–1812, in Twelve Books of Verse; originally Pan Tadeusz, czyli ostatni zajazd na Litwie. Historia szlachecka z roku 1811 i 1812 we dwunastu księgach wierszem
1884
With Fire and Sword
by Henryk Sienkiewicz, Poland
Novel
1890
The Doll
by Bolesław Prus, Poland
Novel
1894
The New Woman
by Bolesław Prus, Poland
Novel
1895–1896
Quo Vadis
by Henryk Sienkiewicz, Poland
Novel
1897
Pharoah
by Bolesław Prus, Poland
Novel
1901
The Wedding
by Stanislaw Wyspianski, Poland
Play
1904–1909
The Peasants
by Wladyslaw Stanislaw Reymont, Poland
Novel
1930–1943
The Man Without Qualities
by Robert Musil, Austria
Novel
1934
The Street of Crocodiles
by Bruno Schulz, Poland
Story collection, also known as The Cinnamon Shops, originally Sklepy cynamonowe
1937
Ferdydurke
by Witold Gombrowicz, Poland
Novel
Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hour-Glass
by Bruno Schulz, Poland
Novel
1944
Stormy Isles—An Azorean Tale
by Vitorino Nemésio, Poland
Novel, originally Mau Tempo no Canal
1948
Ashes and Diamonds
by Jerzy Andrzejewski, Poland
Novel
This Way for the Gas Ladies and Gentlemen
by Tadeusz Borowski, Poland
Story collection
1953
Trans-Atlantyk
by Witold Gombrowicz, Poland
Novel
1957
Bacacay
by Witold Gombrowicz, Poland
Story collection
1961
Solaris
by Stanislaw Lem, Poland
Novel
1965
Cosmos
by Witold Gombrowicz, Poland
Novel
1971
The Futurological Congress
by Stanislaw Lem, Poland
Novel, subtitled From the Memoirs of Ijon Tichy
1986
The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman
by Stanislaw Lem, Poland
Novel, originally Poczatek (The Origin)
1990–2024
The Witcher Saga
by Andrzej Sapkowski, Poland
Novel and story series includes "The Witcher", "The Last Wish", Sword of Destiny, Blood of Elves, Baptism of Fire, and others
1993
Imperium
by Ryszard Kapuściński, Poland
Memoir
The Last Wish
by Andrzej Sapkowski, Poland
Story collection
1996
View with a Grain of Sand: Selected Poems
by Wisława Szymborska, Poland
Poetry collection
1999–2022
Inspector Mock series
by Marek Krajewski, Poland
Novel series
2007
Selected Poems
by Zbigniew Herbert, Poland
Poetry collection
Flights
by Olga Tokarczuk, Poland
Novel
Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead
by Olga Tokarczuk, Poland
Novel
2014
The Books of Jacob
by Olga Tokarczuk, Poland
Novel
