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Summary: Changed the way I thought about Poland!
Review: 'Poland' is a must read for Americans living in Europe, and will change the way you think about the Poles. For so many years, the only news we had from behind the Iron Curtain came from Moscow, and that was, more often than not, propaganda. Michener's fictional tale makes interesting reading (if not wholly factual) and one gains a new respect for the often overtrodden people of Poland. I have added Poland and the many sights described in such detail to my list of travel destinations and my Polish friends here in Germany are searching for a Polish or German translation.
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Summary: Fiction and fantasies
Review: (Re-submitted)
J. A. Michener's book : Poland , paperback page 65 reads as follows: ...Teutonic Knights who crept out of Germany to occupy the Baltic seacoast- which should normally have been part of Poland - acted under the Pope...
Fact: Tacitus in 98 AD states in the Germania- that the Suebi - Goths - Aesti (Prussi) live at the Mare Suebicum in Germania.Fact: Before the birth of Christ and Ptolemy ca 150 AD described Magna Germania and the Goths at the Vistula river with the West Baltic Galinder and Sudauer Borussia-Prussi to the east(Aesti). Fact: 550 AD Jordanis describes the Aesti-Prussi as part of the Gothic empire under Theodoric the Great. First record of the Polanen coming to this area was made mid 900's ,when Miezko I and son Boleslaw I Chrobry received land on loan from the German kings/emperors Otto I,II,III . For this they pledged allegiance to the emperors. The Polanen then went conquering to the north, east, west and south. 1920 and 1945-49 the communists and allies from the Soviet Union and Poland illegally removed the oiginal Prussia-German population. Michener echoes this false 'original Polish land' fantasy.
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Summary: Enlightening and enjoyable
Review: A peer at work suggested that I read this book when I asked her where I could find a general, sweeping history of Poland. I was pleasantly surprised not only about how much I learned about Poland, but also how much I enjoyed the read. Michener does a great job introducing a reader to a region of the world. In this case, I learned enough about the last several centuries of Poland's history by reading Poland, that I can now look at specific points in time in context of the greater history of the area. For instance, my personal interest in WWI and WWII history is now deeper, having read Michener's descriptions of Poland being the running ground for conquerors headed West, or for conquerors headed East. In my ignorance, I didn't consider the importance of the land of Poland in European history before reading this book. In addition to teaching me about Poland's history, the book was a joy to read. It was a classic Michener page-turner (I am a Michener fan). Michener doesn't let the weave of his characters get corny. The novel builds on itself, as well it should, given the history upon which it is based. I recommend the book for those interested in European history.
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Summary: Accurate portrayal of unreasonable anti-Polish hate
Review: Despite the revisionist review by another (seemingly polonophobic) reader, Mssr. Hecht. , Michener's book lays bare the truth of the 1,000-year long quest of Poland's neighbors, to both the east and west, to bloodily subjugate her people, the people of "the plain." Poles, like other Slavs and the closely related Balts (and/or Prussians--who WERE NOT AND ARE NOT Germanic, nor Celtic, Herr Hecht) having been comfortably parked on European plains as far west as the Elbe in what is now Germany since at least 500 AD. With Poland's birth as a state, christened by the Pope in 966 AD--and free of control by German bishops--began the colonialist Teutons' never-ending campaign of war and plunder against the Slavs--which gruesomely culminated in World War II. I think losing a little territory--which had been occupied by both Poles, Balts, Slavic Wends, Germans together for a millenium, anyway -- was the least price Poland could have demanded from a murderous Nazi Germany. Hecht, you got lucky--ever heard of an eye for an eye? You owe us 3 million of them.....Then again, if you're truly descended from Prussi, then you're one of us whether you like it or not...
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Summary: Yet another epic.
Review: Don't read any more reviews. Don't learn another thing about this book. Just go out and read it without any preconceptions, and be drawn into the history of Poland in one of the best historical fiction novels ever written. Go!!
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Summary: An incredible view into Eastern European life.
Review: Exactly the type of book that every American should read. Finely written; a gripping drama that provides the rich, detailed history of one of the most misunderstood countries in the modern world. It will change the way you feel about Poland, her people, and her neighbors. Michener proves again his amazing ability to weave a rich tapestry blending historical fact with fictional drama that will leave you breathless in its splendor.
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Summary: Great read...but stunningly historically inaccurate.
Review: Excellent book. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it. For those interested in European history, I highly recommend this.
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Summary: Must Read
Review: Excellent book. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it. For those interested in European history, I highly recommend this.
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Summary: This novel is an excellent introduction to Poland's history.
Review: Excellent! While reading <Poland> I travelled though the vast, beautiful, fertile land of Poland. I was a magnate(noble) in the 17, 18th century in all the luxury. Beside me, my servants serving the best food imaginable, the clothes!, the music!, the women!, etc. Also I was a poor gentry, and also a peasant.This is a great novel to understand the lives of people in Europe long ago until recent times. But this book tells us more about what a "country" means to the people living in it. Again, an excellent book. The scale is enormous, taking us back to the times when the Mongolians were trampling ocer eastern Europe... Check it out!
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Summary: Michener's finest work
Review: I adore all of James Michener's books, and rate them all highly, but I think that this is his finest work. It has all the usual grandeur of his other works, but maybe because it is a history of an area about which I know so little, I find the story utterly mesmerising. There are of course elements of the story that we are familiar with, such as the horror of war, but even with the grand historical elements that Mr Michener weaves so well into his tales, I think it is the characters that hold the narrative together. And I think that this novel has the strongest and most believable characters of all his works. The story and the lineage of the main characters flow wonderfully, and all in all, it is a very satisfying book.
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