Each of the four parts represents a season in the life of the peasants — Autumn (published in 1904) Winter (published in 1904) Spring (published in 1906) and Summer (published in 1909). This division underlines the relationship of human life with nature. Reymont decided to write about peasant life because of historical events which took place in Polish villages in the early 20th century. The fact that the author was brought up in a village has a significant influence on the novel’s plot. In Chłopi Reymont created a more complete and suggestive picture of country life than any other Polish writer. The novel impresses the reader with its authenticity of the material reality customs behaviour and spiritual culture of the people. The composition of the novel astonishes the reader with its strict simplicity and functionality. The titles of the various volumes signal a tetralogy in one vegetational cycle which regulates the eternal and repeatable rhythm of village life. Parallel to that rhythm is a calendar of religion and customs also repeatable. In such boundaries Reymont placed a colourful country community with sharply drawn individual portraits. The repertoire of human experience and the richness of spiritual life which can be compared with the repertoire of Biblical books and Greek myths has no doctrinal ideas or didactic exemplifications. The author of Chłopi does not believe in doctrines but rather in his own knowledge of life the mentality of the people described and his sense of reality.
