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Though even as a boy he had written verses, his real literary

career began with the publication in 1822 of a volume of ballads,

which was followed the next year by a second book of poems,

containing fragments of a fantastic drama, The Forefathers, and a

short historical poem, Grazyna. These volumes reflect the

romantic movement then prevalent in Europe, of which they are the

first powerful expression in Poland. They were in large part

inspired by the poet's love for a young woman of somewhat higher

station than his own, who, though she returned his affection, was

forced by her family to marry another suitor.