In Slavic speaking countries French is also held up as the "high society" language relative to the dumb boorish common tongue. The Polish born writer Joseph Conrad grew up learning French and failed at his attempts of becoming a high society French poet. He got more traction writing in English and his career exploded from there. By the end of his life (which coincided with the rise of independent Poland in the 1920's) he was ashamed that he was almost incapable of speaking Polish anymore.

Sorta related the writer of the Witcher series is Polish and his story had some spread and appeal in slavic countries but explosion of interest didn't start happening until it was translated into English.