Scope and subject of the work
The monograph constitutes the first comprehensive attempt to reconstruct the way the conflict of 1787–1792 was reported in the Warsaw press during the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski. The author addresses both the factual course of the conflict and the mechanisms of press reporting, including its sources, delays in information transmission, and the political and ideological determinants shaping editorial narratives.
The source material consists of four major Warsaw newspapers from the late 18th century. Despite the absence of permanent war correspondents, the Warsaw press provided readers with extensive and relatively systematic information on the conflict drawing primarily on foreign French, German and English newspapers, as well as private and diplomatic correspondence.
The work is structured chronologically and thematically, with subsequent chapters discussing military campaigns year by year: from the opening campaign of 1787, through the intensive military operations of 1788–1790, to the peace negotiations culminating in the Treaty of Jassy in 1792. Particular attention is paid to, among other things:
- the sieges of Ochakov and Izmail,
- the battles of Focsani and Rymnik,
- the capture of Belgrade,
- and naval operations in the Black Sea.
Prof. Małgorzata Karkocha demonstrates the diverse editorial positions on the so-called Eastern Question – from a pro-Russian narrative to a more pro-Turkish, patriotic and reformist one. The press is presented here not as a neutral transmitter of information, but as an active participant in political debate, shaping public opinion.
More information about the publication can be found on the publisher's website: Flagrante bello. The Russo-Turkish War in the Warsaw Press (1787–1792) – Wydawnictwo DiG
