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Nature and Journey,
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Arkady Fiedler
(1894-1985)

Arkady Fiedler was a traveler, naturalist, and writer from Poznań. He studied philosophy and natural sciences at the Jagiellonian University as well as at the University of Poznań. He became renowned for his numerous journeys across Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia. During his expeditions, he collected natural specimens and later documented his experiences in published books.

One of his major journeys was an expedition to Canada in 1935. The result of this trip was the book Canada Scented with Resin (Kanada pachnąca żywicą), which remains one of his most popular publications. In this work, Fiedler shared numerous memories from his travels, describing the life of the indigenous peoples of Canada — the Iroquois — as well as providing a detailed portrayal of the wild Canadian nature.

In his essays, the writer examined the vast North American boreal forests, dominated by coniferous trees such as spruces, pines, and firs. He was particularly captivated by the resinous scent that permeates the air, a feature emphasized by the very title of his book. A characteristic resin-producing species of the Canadian forests is the balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). Its young, gray-brown bark is covered with numerous resin blisters that release an aromatic substance. The balsam fir was used by the indigenous peoples for medicinal purposes — the resin served as an antiseptic agent for healing wounds, while an infusion of the needles was used to combat fever, cough, and colds.

During his lifetime, Arkady Fiedler undertook 30 major expeditions and wrote 32 books, which gained fame not only in Poland — they were translated into 23 languages and published in editions exceeding 10 million copies. In addition to describing his travels, Fiedler also addressed patriotic themes — he actively participated in the Greater Poland Uprising, and during World War II he documented, among other things, the history and experiences of the 303 Squadron. Today, his family home in Puszczykowo near Poznań has been turned into a museum dedicated to his journeys and his impact in diverse areas of science, culture, and literature.