The article explores the complex relationship between Darwin's theory of evolution and the Polish 19th-century novel, focusing on the mimetic conflict between Darwin's narrative style and realist prose. The author outlines four stages of early reception of Darwin's theory in Poland: ambivalence, repression, latency, and painful narcissism. The final stage is a result of recognizing that evolutionary knowledge can only be expressed through a narrative form, such as a novel. Realistic prose discovers that while science may triumph in the realm of principles, the explanation of those principles requires a certain literary form. The article highlights how Darwin's theory, with its narrative style and emphasis on natural selection, influenced Polish literature and culture, leading to a reevaluation of the role of literature in conveying scientific ideas. It also discusses the broader implications of Darwin's theory on Polish society, including the tension between scientific rationality and literary imagination, and the eventual acceptance of evolutionary concepts within the literary tradition. The text emphasizes the unique position of Darwin's theory as a narrative form that bridges science and literature, shaping the cultural and intellectual landscape of 19th-century Poland.The article explores the complex relationship between Darwin's theory of evolution and the Polish 19th-century novel, focusing on the mimetic conflict between Darwin's narrative style and realist prose. The author outlines four stages of early reception of Darwin's theory in Poland: ambivalence, repression, latency, and painful narcissism. The final stage is a result of recognizing that evolutionary knowledge can only be expressed through a narrative form, such as a novel. Realistic prose discovers that while science may triumph in the realm of principles, the explanation of those principles requires a certain literary form. The article highlights how Darwin's theory, with its narrative style and emphasis on natural selection, influenced Polish literature and culture, leading to a reevaluation of the role of literature in conveying scientific ideas. It also discusses the broader implications of Darwin's theory on Polish society, including the tension between scientific rationality and literary imagination, and the eventual acceptance of evolutionary concepts within the literary tradition. The text emphasizes the unique position of Darwin's theory as a narrative form that bridges science and literature, shaping the cultural and intellectual landscape of 19th-century Poland.