Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski (1812-1887) is one of the most industrious writers in the history of Polish literature - his output is estimated at over 500 works. Kraszewski's interests also included journalistic, political and social activities. Due to his political involvement, he was forced to leave Warsaw and in 1863 went to Dresden, where he spent more than 20 years. This stage had a huge impact on both the writer's work and the reception of his works in the West.

Kraszewski's stay in the Saxon capital
Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski arrived in Dresden on 3 February 1863. The city was to be the place of only temporary stay for the Polish writer, who wished to return to his homeland as soon as possible. He settled in Neustadt, a quiet district away from the centre of Dresden. He spent the years 1873-1879 in a villa built around 1855 in the Swiss style, at Nordstraße 27 (now: Nordstraße 28).

During his stay in Dresden, Kraszewski took an active part in the life of the local Polish community, taking care of the January insurgents seeking refuge. He also did not slow down his literary work. Here he wrote "The Old Tale" and a number of other historical novels, including the so-called Saxon trilogy, which included the novels: "Countess Cosel" (1874), "Brühl" (1874) and "From the Seven Years' War" (1876).

Museum
In 1960, the Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski Museum was established in a house at Nordstraβe 28 in Dresden. Objects related to the writer and assistance in setting up the permanent exhibition were provided by the Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature in Warsaw. The Kraszewski Museum, a branch of the Dresden City Museum, is currently the only Polish museum in Germany. In addition to a permanent exhibition on the life and works of Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski, it hosts temporary exhibitions on the culture and history of both countries.

Dresden in 2013 gained a new permanent exhibition at the Jozef I. Kraszewski Museum, funded by the Polish Ministry of Culture. Using modern media, the exhibition presents the writer's life. It tells the story of his interests, achievements and extraordinary biography against the background of the time in an attractive way.

Poles in Dresden
J.I. Kraszewski's choice of Dresden as his place of escape was not accidental. The city had been on the map of Polish emigrants for years, who came here after the Kościuszko and November Uprisings. It was in Dresden that Adam Mickiewicz wrote the third part of Dziady. Among the most eminent citizens of the Saxon capital are Tadeusz Kościuszko, Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, Fryderyk Chopin and, buried in the old Catholic cemetery in Dresden, the poet Kazimierz Brodziński. Many participants of the January Uprising also found refuge in the Saxon capital. In 1864, it was home to a large Polish community (around 6,000 Poles), who created their own "little homeland".