Polish Translation of Petzold’s Memoirs
For the first time, Polish readers will be able to reach for the remarkable memoirs of one of the most important European landscape architects of the nineteenth century. Memoirs of My Life by Eduard Petzold is a fascinating journey through nineteenth-century Europe. This limited Polish edition, enriched with scholarly commentary, iconographic materials and maps, will soon be available for pre-order—while also supporting the creation of this unique publication.
The publication Memoirs of My Life by Eduard Petzold is an extraordinary document of its era and a personal testimony of one of the most important European landscape architects of the nineteenth century. The book was first printed in 1890, but in a very limited run intended solely for the author’s closest family. It was not conceived as a literary or scholarly work – Petzold wrote it primarily out of a desire to preserve the memory of his own life.
In the introduction, the author emphasises that his intention was to leave a record of the path he had taken – to describe the people he met, the places he visited, and the world which, in the second half of the nineteenth century, was undergoing rapid transformation. The result is a remarkable text: personal, sincere and rich in observations on culture, the art of gardening, and the social life of the time.
Petzold’s memoirs guide the reader through nineteenth-century Europe – from grand aristocratic residences to the extensive park landscapes that he designed or co-created. The author writes not only about his professional work, but also about his relationships with patrons, his creative inspirations, and the many journeys that profoundly influenced his development as a landscape designer.
Of particular interest to Polish readers is the account of Petzold’s journey to Poland in 1876. At the invitation of Prince Adam Stanisław Sapieha, the architect arrived at Krasiczyn Castle, where he was to undertake the rearrangement of part of the local park. On his way to the Podkarpacie region, he visited many important centres of contemporary Galicia, including Kraków, the Radziwiłł Castle in Dębica, the castle in Łańcut, the Lubomirski Palace in Przeworsk, and the Czartoryski residence in Jarosław. His recollections of this journey constitute a valuable record of the cultural landscape and social life of this part of Europe at the end of the nineteenth century.
For this reason, the book is not only the autobiography of an outstanding designer, but also an important historical source for researchers of garden art, cultural history, and the history of European residences. For Polish readers, the publication carries an additional significance – it helps us better understand the origins and intellectual foundations of many landscape parks that today lie within Poland and form an integral part of our cultural heritage.
What the Book Will Include
The Polish edition of Memoirs of My Life will be more than just a translation of Eduard Petzold’s original text. The publication will be enriched with a range of additional materials that will help readers better understand the historical context of the era, the author’s work, and the significance of his achievements.
The book will include:
- Introduction – written by Łukasz Przybylak, Jacek Kuśmierski and Heino Grunert, introducing the life and work of Eduard Petzold as well as the history behind the creation of his memoirs.
- Memoirs of My Life – the complete translation of Eduard Petzold’s autobiographical text.
- The Petzold family tree up to 1902 – prepared by Paul Petzold, allowing readers to trace the history of the author’s family.
- Eduard Petzold’s Poland – an essay by Łukasz Przybylak devoted to the Polish themes in the designer’s travels and work.
- Eduard Petzold and His European Journeys – a text by Jacek Kuśmierski analysing the landscape architect’s network of contacts and sources of inspiration across Europe.
- Index of names – helping readers locate the people mentioned in the book.
- Geographical and subject index – allowing quick access to places, gardens and key terms.
- Editorial note to the Polish edition – describing how the publication was prepared.
- Acknowledgements – listing the individuals and institutions supporting the publication of the book.
The estimated length of the publication is approximately 380 pages.
The book will also be enriched with visual and editorial materials prepared especially for the Polish edition, including:
- refreshed iconographic materials from the original edition,
- a map of Europe showing the gardens visited by Eduard Petzold,
- a map of contemporary Poland marking the locations of Eduard Petzold’s professional activity.
The book design has been prepared by the “Kilku” Collective, which created a unique cover inspired by Eduard Petzold’s favourite trees. The publication will be issued in a Swiss binding, with embossing referring to the texture of the bark of the European white elm.
Publisher
Eduard Petzold Foundation