High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Wladyslaw Orkan (27 November 1875 - 14 May 1930) (actually born as Franciszek Ksawery Smaciarz, changed surname to Smreczyński, but primarily known under his pen name, Orkan) was a Polish writer from the Young Poland period. He is known as one of the greatest Polish writers from Podhale region and G rale folk; most famous of his works portray the common people from that region.