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Books, books and more books. Mainstream media have not noticed yet, but there are a great many books coming out about Poland - its past, its vibrant present, and its promising future.
The book that is taking the world by storm is Timothy Snyder’s. The subject of Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin is not exclusively Poland but Snyder’s brilliant telling of the genocidal policies and actions of Poland’s two powerful neighbours will shake up the conventional thinking of so many western academics and journalists.
Piotr Wrobel has written an excellent review of Mieczyslaw Biskupski’s Hollywood’s War with Poland, 1939-1945, which has not received the attention it deserves in our local newspapers, though it is as important an American story as it is a Polish one. A “must read” for everyone interested in Poland, this book has an engaging style, though its message is disquieting.
And more good books from the Ohio University Press, The Origins of Polish Democracy, a collective work that traces Poland’s old democratic roots, its trials, and its recovery; and from Aquila Polonica, with its new edition of 303 Squadron, beautifully translated and illustrated.
And finally, there’s The Long Bridge, a memoir by Urszula Muskus, who no doubt would have had a brilliant literary career had the war not intervened.
But it’s not all books. Justine Jablonska talks to the American directors of a film about the magnificent Polish Arabian horses – even the Middle East goes to Poland to buy the best horses!
Isabelle Sokolnicka writes about the Middle East and Pope John Paul II’s mission of peace to war torn Lebanon.
And more – about energy, about our very challenging language, and and yes, about mathematics and Polish culture.
As Cosmopolitan Review enters its third year we thought it was time for a change, including a new look, and also a new approach. For one thing, we want to publish more frequently, but smaller issues. As anyone who has ever undertaken the arduous task of renovating a home knows, however, changes sometimes take more time than anticipated.
So although we still haven’t changed the décor we will be back soon, with more books, more films, news about book clubs and “Polish Film Nites,” more engaging articles, a new look and room for you to add your voice. We want to know what you think. Till, then, read on and we hope you enjoy it. CR
