Heart of Europe: The Past in Poland's Present

Rating:
Summary: Typical brutal reply of the barbarian
Review: (...)
Apparently for (...) history of Central Europe there is a huge black hole beginning XV century till the end of XVII century. This is not very surprising considering that in one of the previous 'reviews' she/he mentions 'typical slovian brutality'. The hatered that shouts from those reviews is disturbing. What kind of 'typical hatered' it is?

I could argue that for few centures territory of Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth has been fairly quiet patch of tolerance in Europe (compared with Western Europe). That Poland really did not start second world war and Polish really did not support Hitler. That Poland lost 6 million citizens (3 million of them of Jewish origin).
Of cause Poland ais not saint of nations, no nation is. If one wants one can find many shamefull episodes in the history. But the same can be said about English (colonialism, slavery), Americans (extermination of Indian tribes), Jews (what did American Jews do to help European ones?, what is their policy towards Palestinians? - just to give modern time examples) and so on.
The opinions like Mrs/Mr Wing ones just made it plain that there is the need for books concerning Central Europe history. Maybe in the future there will be no American asking Pole, Czech, Slovakian or Ukrainian if there are still open concentration camps or if their countries border with China.

Instead of eating books one should read them and try to understand.

Rating:
Summary: Not Just History
Review: But sociology and psychology as well. I have been trying to educate myself in the area of European History over the course of the last year or so. As an introduction, I bought "Europe: A History" by Davies. After that overview, I have acquired other titles that focus on specific topics on European history such as "Heart of Europe: A Short History of Poland." As a novice, I have no qualifications to challenge the history. I have a problem with the style. Mr. Davies, perhaps as someone who "feels" history, spends a great deal of effort addressing the sociological and psychological consequences of the various historical events. If Mr. Davies were to describe a car accident, he would include descriptions of how the passengers and by-standers felt and what it was that might have caused them to do what they did next. For me, I would rather have the facts reported as if they were a newspaper article. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book for the factual information.

Rating:
Summary: Not Just History
Review: But sociology and psychology as well. I have been trying to educate myself in the area of European History over the course of the last year or so. As an introduction, I bought "Europe: A History" by Davies. After that overview, I have acquired other titles that focus on specific topics on European history such as "Heart of Europe: A Short History of Poland." As a novice, I have no qualifications to challenge the history. I have a problem with the style. Mr. Davies, perhaps as someone who "feels" history, spends a great deal of effort addressing the sociological and psychological consequences of the various historical events. If Mr. Davies were to describe a car accident, he would include descriptions of how the passengers and by-standers felt and what it was that might have caused them to do what they did next. For me, I would rather have the facts reported as if they were a newspaper article. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book for the factual information.

Rating:
Summary: Not Just History
Review: But sociology and psychology as well. I have been trying to educate myself in the area of European History over the course of the last year or so. As an introduction, I bought "Europe: A History" by Davies. After that overview, I have acquired other titles that focus on specific topics on European history such as "Heart of Europe: A Short History of Poland." As a novice, I have no qualifications to challenge the history. I have a problem with the style. Mr. Davies, perhaps as someone who "feels" history, spends a great deal of effort addressing the sociological and psychological consequences of the various historical events. If Mr. Davies were to describe a car accident, he would include descriptions of how the passengers and by-standers felt and what it was that might have caused them to do what they did next. For me, I would rather have the facts reported as if they were a newspaper article. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book for the factual information.

Rating:
Summary: Sometimes a fresh look at some old controversies
Review: Davies ruffled feathers of academics especially with his perspective on the fate of Jews in Poland during WW II. Poles often are presumed guilty of "not doing enough" to help Jews escape the Nazis. Davies argues that Poles were also in need of help and not in any position to offer others much help. His argument conflicted with views generally held by Jewish intellectuals and others and he had claimed that their influence had him removed from a proposed teaching position at a university. In any case, the book should be read as a serious contribution to understanding Polish history, and not as a polemical threat to anybody's "ironclad" notions.

Rating:
Summary: Sometimes a fresh look at some old controversies
Review: Davies ruffled feathers of academics especially with his perspective on the fate of Jews in Poland during WW II. Poles often are presumed guilty of "not doing enough" to help Jews escape the Nazis. Davies argues that Poles were also in need of help and not in any position to offer others much help. His argument conflicted with views generally held by Jewish intellectuals and others and he had claimed that their influence had him removed from a proposed teaching position at a university. In any case, the book should be read as a serious contribution to understanding Polish history, and not as a polemical threat to anybody's "ironclad" notions.

Rating:
Summary: This is not history
Review: I am not sure how to describe this book, but clearly its claim to be "history" is really misleading. Whatever it is it is badly organized. The author seems to be trying to employ a sort of movie flashback system of relating history, but what the educated reader will get is confusion followed by boredom. If you are seeking to learn something of the history of Poland you are not going to get it from this volume. This is one of the worst books I have ever read whatever it is supposed to be.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent look from outside for history of Poland
Review: I learned more about history of Poland then from any history lessons. Especially I apreciate history of Polish Jews and origins of Polish Nation.

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Summary: Norman Davies got it absolutedly wrong, again!
Review: Poland is, and was never the heart of Europe. Germany is. As a middling, bumbling, chaotic agrarian/feudal state between flanking giants, it was destined to be hors doeuvres of the Great Powers whenever one of them dashes for continental hegemony.

Trying, like Italy, to play off one bloc/alliance aginst the other, and fantaszing herself to be the decisive weight (even today!) that will tilt the balance of power either way, Poland ended up being the ultimate bargaining chip and sacrificial lamb in real world Realpolitiking.

Rating:
Summary: the only true Polish history book you can find in USA
Review: The words of recommendation are not necessary if you know the history, not only one part of it. "Winners write history", which comes as nothing new under the sun, to those who lost so many lives fighting for a freedom of other nations. In Vienna (Sobieski), with Napoleon (Sarratoga),in I World War, II World War (check "Forgotten Holocaust", general Maczek army bringing freedom to Holland and Denmark, check 303 in battle for London, Monte Casino and more). Looking even in US own history Kosciuszko, Pulaski (those were the generals from Poland) helping general Washington. This is just sad that so fast people in that part of the World tend to forget and are not willing to learn more about those who were once very close to their hearth. As that author once said "Slaves are just hopelessly romantic". I just loved that book.