PARATEKSTY HISTORII ALTERNATYWNYCH
Paratexts of Alternate Histories

Summary/Abstract: Alternate histories constitute a substantial body of texts that employ various literary genres grounded in counterfactual modality. The material examined in this article consists of Polish alternate history narratives on the twentieth-century events, produced in the twenty-first century. During this period, several dozen works falling into the category of alternate histories were published, allowing for the stabilization of communication between authors and recipients of this genre. A crucial element of this writing is the communication with the reader, who must be informed about the specific nature of the book they are engaging with. The paratexts placed on the covers of books presenting counterfactual scenarios invariably include information indicating the contestation of historical facts. Applying paratext theory to the study of alternate histories makes it possible to observe the emergence of rules governing communication with the reader – above all, the strategies used to signal the alternate character of the novel, as well as the questions that encourage readers to consider historical alternatives.

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