Similarly the illustrative quotes chosen here are merely those the complete review subjectively believes represent the tenor and judgment of the review as a whole. Please note that these ratings solely represent the complete review 's biased interpretation and subjective opinion of the actual reviews and do not claim to accurately reflect or represent the views of the reviewers.

Perhaps it took a Polish author to perceive that fantasy had become the natural partner of nineteenth-century naturalism.' - John Bayley, Times Literary Supplement

'Prus's quiet humour certainly pervades the texture of his prose, even in translation (.) All these highly practical activities are masterfully described, and yet have an air of fantasy about them.

(.) A cast of other characters takes centre stage at various points, and, at times, it seems as though a grocery store and a tenement take the place of hero.' - Adam Zamoyski, Sunday Times It is a gripping read, with a nice balance of sadness and humour. (.) In style and atmosphere, it is Dickens out of Balzac, with echoes of Hugo and a dash of Maupassant.

'(T)he greatest realist novel of 19th-century Polish literature.

'In retrospect, Prus can be seen to have written a prototype of the 20th-century ‘post-colonial’ novel, in which the characters are mimic men and the puppet-masters are always elsewhere.' - Patrick Parrinder, London Review of Books.

(.) This singular and timeless Polish masterpiece stands among world literature's enduring achievements.' - Eileen Battersby, Irish Times Prus is excellent with dialogue, from banter to awkward exchanges, while his eye for detail (.) injects life into everything. (.) It captivates from the opening pages. (.) In a novel of nearly 700 pages, Prus never wastes a word nor falters into melodrama.

'(I)t is a splendid example of 19th-century realist fiction, and it reflects the best of the British and French traditions while at times approaching the mastery of the Russians.

Lalka was made into a film in 1968, directed by Wojciech HasĪ- : enjoyable large-scale novel of late-19th century Polish society.

With an Introduction by Stanisław Barańczak.

Translated by David Welsh, revised by Dariusz Tołczyk and Anna Zaranko.

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Doll boleslaw prus