The book focuses on the beginnings of Polish theatre criticism, related to the activities of the Society of Xs (1815-1819). Reviews of the Xs, published in the Warsaw press, played an opinion-forming role and set the tone for the artistic life of the capital in the times preceding the beginnings of the Romantic trend in Polish culture. The author reconstructs the aesthetic and ideological assumptions of the Society's representatives in a broad historical, political and social context, at the same time drawing a rich picture of Warsaw salons and theatres, especially the National Theatre headed by Wojciech Bogusławski and Ludwik Osiński. By familiarising ourselves with the issues of selected reviews (an anthology is attached to the book), we enter the circle of disputes and discussions of that time, focusing on the importance of the theatre, its repertoire, as well as the desired functions of vocal-instrumental genres, especially opera. We also get acquainted with the intellectual and cultural atmosphere of Warsaw from the first years of Fryderyk Chopin's pianistic and compositional activity.

The book is also available as ebook version on www.legimi.pl.