Publisher's Synopsis
This is a story of a Polish family that spans the whole of the twentieth century. It presents a tale of ordinary people who are caught up in some of the most important events that have punctuated that century's history, and is therefore a reflection upon it. The death of the writer's mother and the demise of the Soviet Union compelled Eugene Krajewski to return his homeland in 1998 for the first time since his deportation at the age of four, on a quest to discover his father Leon Krajewski's final resting place. Leon disappeared without trace in January 1940 shortly before the mass deportations of Poles (including Eugene's family, and many like them) began as part of Stalin's ethnic cleansing of the Polish borderlands. Like many who say they can't start grieving until their loved ones are laid to rest, the fact that the writer did not know where the bones of his beloved father lay, preyed on his mind, as did what had happened to the land which as a child he had called home. What resulted was this book, and the hope that through this story, people like Leon Krajewski and their families will not be forgotten, and that some small celebration of their lives, and their endurance throughout a turbulent and difficult century can live on and serve as an inspiration to others. It is a stark reminder that political events, even those going on today, can shatter the lives of innocent families - and an important reminder to all of us that history should not be allowed to repeat itself. This incredible story describes great journeys across the globe which the family had to endure - many of them involving mass starvation, sickness and death. But what is remarkable is, that viewed through the author's eyes as a child, most events that would be regarded by adults with horror, are described as fascinating adventures. Far from being a story purely focused on desperation and suffering, it is instead written with a calm optimism - and a large measure of humour. Rather than being doom-laden, the story is instead something of a symbol of hope and an indicator of the power of the human spirit over adversity, and should serve as an inspiration to all that read it.
