Poland by James A. Michener Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.42 You Save: $3.57 (45%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Poland
Book Review: Poland's amazing and unique history in the flesh.
Summary: 5 Stars
Poland by James A. Michener is a book that has been on my favorites list since I was in High School. My Paternal family descended from Slovak and Polish peasants. This historical novel is great in painting a picture of what life was like for my family and for other of Polish ancestry.
This book stars characters from 3 families from the 1200's to the 1900's that represent the 3 major classes in Polish society. First you have the Lubonski's that represent the Nobility, then the Bukowski's that are knights of the poorer Gentry. Then finally you have my kin. The Buk's, who are the peasants, continue to carry the burden of history through the generations.
Although this book might not be totally correct to historical standards it does give a person a good idea of what life in Poland was like for a person of any of the classes in the years that are shown in this novel. From the Mongol hordes of Genghis Khan to the German, Austrian and Russians all taking there bits through the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries to the final Nazi led German occupation of Poland during World War II and finally the Russian "Liberation" and Communist state of Poland that was during the 1980's when the novel was written. Each generation shows the different class struggles and a little of the basics of their lives. Each was dependant on the other and Poland unique place in history becomes clear. From the first European form of a representative government with predominately foreign elected Kings and the constant struggle to survive the political, racial and religious battles from 1200AD to the 1980's. Poland is an outstanding historical novel that educates and entertains at the same time.
Book Review: Poland, I hardly knew ye...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a third-generation Polish American; my grandparents, the Kulwickis and Schmidts, disseminated little of their family and cultural history to their children in the effort to assimilate in this country. I knew next to nothing about them, where they came from, and what would be appealing about sailing halfway across the world to a place where they would be mocked and marginalized. Michener's work helped me reclaim my heritage, take pride in what I came from, and added to my nagging suspicion that the Germans and Russians have always been just a bunch of bullies. Beautiful work; ambitious, thorough and engaging.Book Review: SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING
Summary: 5 Stars
For anyone who wants to understand the history of not only Poland, but Europe as a whole. Michener should have won the Nobel Prize for this book.Book Review: Swords, Bricks and the Spirit of the Polish People
Summary: 5 Stars
"Poland," the novel, is Michener at his best, retelling the history of the Polish people through 800 years of struggles, missteps and triumphs of memorable characters of the author's creation--generations of the Lubonski (counts), Bukowski (petty nobles) and Buk (peasants) families, sprinkled with foreigners such as endearing Marjorie Trilling (daughter of a wealthy ambassador from the U.S.) and middling Major Konrad Krumpf (Nazi functionary). Against steep odds--swifter and better equipped invaders from the east (Tatars), west (Teutonic Knights), north (Sweden) and south (Turks) between the 13th and 18th centuries; occupation by militarily stronger Austrians, Prussians, Russians, Nazi Germans and Communist Russians during the 19th and 20th centuries; and persistent internal divisions and political chaos among their own social classes--the Polish people steadfastly exhibit an uncanny inner strength and remarkable resolve, as symbolized by the cross-class Bukowski-Buk marriage at story's end, to prevail as a culture, society and country.
We can understand the history of Poland through the interplay of three core elements: geography, freedom and resilience. Situated between Europe and Russia, with no significant east-west geographical obstacles to movement, the lowlands of Poland have historically served as a "buffer zone" between Western (Christian, modernizing, capitalist, liberal) and Eastern (Orthodox, traditional, socialist, autocratic) cultural and political influences. This defining dichotomy finds expression in the Polish people's fleeting realization of their "dream of real freedom" (Michener's phrase) under a new but short-lived democratic constitution in 1791, only to be squelched by restoration of "the sham of Golden Freedom" and liberum veto (the quirky Polish legal practice of allowing a single dissenting vote to prevent change), through which rich and powerful magnates both in surrounding countries and within Poland controlled politics for centuries to maintain serfdom for the selfish economic benefit of the nobility.
The everlasting hope and resilience of the Polish people rises above the terror, forced labor, torture, executions and deaths of millions of Poles (and Jews) during Nazi occupation of Polish towns and villages, particularly at Majdanek (and Auschwitz) and other detention centers during World War II. Despite the repeated ravaging and takeover of Poland by outsiders throughout the centuries, the Polish people's will to determine their own destiny continually furnishes them with the fortitude to rebuild what others destroy. As Michener puts it, "A Pole is a man born with a sword in his right hand and a brick in his left. When the battle is over, he starts to rebuild."
For anyone with an interest in European history, international relations, comparative politics and economics, and, ultimately, humanity, "Poland" offers a realistic glimpse into the heart and soul of the Polish people, pivotally positioned at a crossroads in Eastern Europe. Michener's novel is a well-constructed piece of literature, with my only criticism being that the late author did not apply his inimitable talent to reach further back in history (as Michener did in "Hawaii"). The story of Poland would be more complete with another chapter or two appended at the beginning to explore the pre-13th century roots of today's 38 million Poles and their impressively resilient culture, one that has throughout the times enrichened our lives with discoveries, contributions and leadership from the likes of Copernicus (Kopernik), Chopin, Joseph Conrad, Marie Curie (Sklodowska), Czeslaw Milosz, Pope John Paul II (Wojtyla), and Roman Polanski.
Book Review: The best book i've ever read
Summary: 5 Stars
Poland was the most incredible book i've ever read. It captures the spirit and mind of the polish people to perfection , From Castle Gorka , To the Tatars , it chronicles the defeat and rebirth (many times) of the country and its people , i would recommend it to ANYONE and everyone .