Curtis Urness's Blog - Posts Tagged "fiction"
Review of The Life of Marek Zaczek; Part I, by David Trawinski
A son is born to a peasant woman, a victim of rape, in 1772 during the time of the first Partition of Poland by neighboring powers Russia, Prussia, and Austria. His lot is to live in Galicia, ceded to the Austrian Empire. While the Austrian rule is for the most part lenient, Marek's situation is bleak. His family lives on the manor of a tyrannical nobleman who oversees the region's vast salt mines. Marek's father must labor underground for days at a time, while his mother avoid the wiles of her attacker as she still works under his supervision. The novel follows young Marek from his childhood through early adulthood, during an era when historical changes are altering the composition of Europe.
The Life of Marek Zaczek; Part I, by David Trawinski, evokes that time vividly. Part romance, part Greek drama, and part epic adventure, the author skillfully leads his hero through family misfortune, a budding but doomed romance, power plays by the Austrian and Polish nobility, and the politics leading to the final dissolution of Poland as a sovereign state in the Third Partition. Trawinski's knowledge of European history is vast and presented in an interesting way.
Yet, it is the memorable characters that make this book such a pleasure to read. Marek is buffeted about by circumstances he of which he isn't even cognizant, but shines forth with integrity, faith, and a commitment to honor. Magda, his mother, is central to the story; in many ways the novel is as much about her as it is about Marek. She harbors many deep secrets and unrealistic guilt that hinder her from achieving happiness. Yet, she is charitable to those who misuse her, while being clever enough to turn their traps back on themselves. Marek's father, Bronisław is a simple and loving man, a true salt of the earth. The aristocratic, young Maya is deeply in love with Marek, but the class distinction between them, as well as factors hidden from both, make their romance impossible. The two nobleman who figure prominently in the story, Polish Duke Sdanowicz and Austrian Count Von Arndt come across as complex but crafty villains.
If I can find fault with anything in this book, it is that the first chapter has some stylistic problems with tense and point-of-view. That does not detract from the verve and detail of the chapter in any significant way. The patient reader who find his way past this is rewarded by masterful writing and plot twists that draw him deep into a world both exciting and emotionally satisfying.
Having finished Part I, I can barely wait for Part II of The Life of Marek Zaczek to make its appearance.
The Life of Marek Zaczek; Part I, by David Trawinski, evokes that time vividly. Part romance, part Greek drama, and part epic adventure, the author skillfully leads his hero through family misfortune, a budding but doomed romance, power plays by the Austrian and Polish nobility, and the politics leading to the final dissolution of Poland as a sovereign state in the Third Partition. Trawinski's knowledge of European history is vast and presented in an interesting way.
Yet, it is the memorable characters that make this book such a pleasure to read. Marek is buffeted about by circumstances he of which he isn't even cognizant, but shines forth with integrity, faith, and a commitment to honor. Magda, his mother, is central to the story; in many ways the novel is as much about her as it is about Marek. She harbors many deep secrets and unrealistic guilt that hinder her from achieving happiness. Yet, she is charitable to those who misuse her, while being clever enough to turn their traps back on themselves. Marek's father, Bronisław is a simple and loving man, a true salt of the earth. The aristocratic, young Maya is deeply in love with Marek, but the class distinction between them, as well as factors hidden from both, make their romance impossible. The two nobleman who figure prominently in the story, Polish Duke Sdanowicz and Austrian Count Von Arndt come across as complex but crafty villains.
If I can find fault with anything in this book, it is that the first chapter has some stylistic problems with tense and point-of-view. That does not detract from the verve and detail of the chapter in any significant way. The patient reader who find his way past this is rewarded by masterful writing and plot twists that draw him deep into a world both exciting and emotionally satisfying.
Having finished Part I, I can barely wait for Part II of The Life of Marek Zaczek to make its appearance.
