Przedmowa Leopolda Jana Szersznika do De re coquinaria Apicjusza

The Latin preface of Father Leopold Jan Szersznik to his German translation of Apicius’s work falls within the scope of the opera minora category. Szersznik, who had received a thorough education, including individual French and Latin language tutoring and studies at Czech Jesuit colleges, is a good example of a scholar and educator from the Age of Enlightenment. His versatile interests and extensive knowledge enabled him to conduct scholarly investigations and present their results through manuscripts as well as published works. Another, no less important part of his activity was the teaching and education of young people, to which he devoted himself to the end of his life. Comprehensive knowledge of the subject, due to gathering of an adequate source database, allowed Szersznik, even in such a small piece of composition as a preface, to fully demonstrate his critical approach and fluent command of verbal riches of the language of Cicero.