BolesÅ aw Prus ( pen name of Aleksander GÅ owacki ; August 20 , 1847 - May 19 , 1912 ) was a Polish writer . BolesÅ aw Prus ( pronounced : ( ( Media : Pl-Boles Å aw Prus . ogg ( b ` lÎ swaf ` prus ) ) ) ; HrubieszÃ w , 20 August 1847 -- 19 May 1912 , Warsaw ) , born Aleksander GÅ owacki , was the leading figure in Polish literature of the late 19th century , and a distinctive voice in world literature .