Stefan Żeromski Bench in Siedlce

In front of the historic Municipal Public Library building at 5 Piłsudskiego Street in Siedlce, a bronze Stefan Żeromski sits on a bench. The bench monument was unveiled in 2011, when the library reopened after renovation for its 90th anniversary. The choice of figure is no accident: Anna Zawadzka, the writer's life partner, came from Siedlce, and the town appears in his novel "Przedwiośnie" (The Coming Spring) as the hometown of Cezary Baryka's mother.

History: a bench for the library's jubilee

The library commissioned the monument from sculptor Stanisław Strzyżyński of Nałęczów – the town where the young Żeromski worked as a tutor and met his wife. In 2011 the major renovation and modernisation of the historic building at 5 Piłsudskiego Street was completed. The library's ceremonial reopening and the unveiling of the bench crowned its 90th anniversary celebrations. The event won first place in the "Kultura Siedlecka" monthly's poll for Cultural Event of the Year 2011.

The library's links with the writer go back further. From 12 November 1960 it bore Stefan Żeromski's name, and in 1971 Monika Żeromska, the writer's daughter, came to Siedlce for its 50th anniversary.

Żeromski and Siedlce

In 1889 the young Żeromski worked as a tutor in Łysów near Siedlce. In 1908 he met the painter Anna Zawadzka (1888–1983), born in Siedlce, the daughter of a local notary. Although they never married – the writer remained the husband of Oktawia née Radziwiłłowicz – their daughter Monika was born in 1913, and in his will Żeromski recognised Anna as his rightful wife. It was Siedlce that he immortalised in "Przedwiośnie" as the hometown longed for by Jadwiga Barykowa. Żeromski was nominated four times for the Nobel Prize in Literature (1921–1924) and became the first president of Polish PEN.

Tripto tips

• The bench stands on the square in front of the library entrance and is accessible round the clock – a photo and a moment with a book take a quarter of an hour.
• The square is used for library events: the National Reading of "Przedwiośnie" was held here in 2018, and the "Patriotic Garden" happening takes place every year around 11 November.
• Fit the visit into a walk around central Siedlce, with the town hall nicknamed "Jacek" and the former Ogiński Palace.