THE IDEA OF THE FRONTIER IN THE CRITICISM OF ANTONI FERDYNAND OSSENDOWSKI'S FICTION (A STUDY OF 'BEASTS, MEN AND GODS') / KATEGORIA POGRANICZA W BADANIACH TWORCZOSCI ANTONIEGO FERDYNANDA OSSENDOWSKIEGO (NA PRZYKLADZIE POWIESCI 'PRZEZ KRAJ LUDZI, ZWIE

This article attempts to identify and analyze the special nature of the Frontier experience in Antoni Ferdynand Ossendowski's 'Beasts, Men and Gods'. With the help of the 'Frontier factor' it has been possible to gain a new perspective on the heterogeneity of Ossendowski's book on the level of genology, narration and literary conventions. 'Beasts Men and Gods' possesses the characteristic features of an adventure story, crime fiction, biography and autobiography, an academic study (combining politics and zoology) and a fairy tale. The fact the book is a meeting point of so many genological and narrative forms and conventions indicates in a way the appropriateness of the concept of the Frontier.