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The Polish Way: A Thousand-Year History of the Poles and Their Culture
This title is now out of print. Please see Adam Zamoyski's new book A HISTORY , available September 1, 2012.
422 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 1988
21 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
About the author
Adam Zamoyski
27 books309 followersA historian and a member of the ancient Zamoyski family of Polish nobility. Born in New York City and raised in England. He is Chairman of the Board of the Princes Czartoryski Foundation. On June 16, 2001, in London, England, he married the artist Emma Sergeant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 28, 2013
This is an excellent history of Poland which I read some years ago. From the introduction :
To the average inhabitant of Western Europe, the history of Poland is a yawning chasm whose edges are obscured by an overhang of accepted commonplaces (what a beautiful phrase!) - that the Poles are a romantic people, good at fighting, riding, dancing and drinking, pathologically incapable of organisation or stable self-government, condemned by geography and their own ineptitude to be the victims of history.
Sounds harsh, coming from a Polish American, and a little unreasonable for anyone in the year 2013, but he's referring to the melodramatic facts that Poland as a country was removed from the map of Europe not once, but twice, first by Austria and Prussia, and secondly by Hitler and Stalin. Poland appears in Europe as the restaurant where despots may dine without paying the bill.
An English or an American person will at some fundamental level never really be able to understand the anxieties of being European. We assume that all these countries we see delineated neatly on the political maps have always been there - always been a France there, and a Germany about there, Spain is the bit that sticks out here and Italy looks like a boot kicking an oblong football. What's the problem? But the entire history of Europe has been like a kaleidoscope, someone always grabbing it and giving it a shake to make a new arrangement of borders and peoples. Some towns changes their states three or four times in a hundred years. Some countries disappeared. And all this chaos is not something from the 17th century, the latest version of it was the breakup of Yugoslavia, 1990-1999. This is why the EC is such an article of faith among the political elite - they think "never again"!
The USA and Great Britain can't really get this on an emotional level, they've never been invaded, they did the invading. (All right, there was the Norman Conquest in 1066, I'll give you that. That was just a change of management and a new set of accountants came in to perform an audit (the Doomsday Book). No big deal. ) Can't imagine the USA or Great Britain ever being wiped off the map. But if you're Polish, you can imagine no Poland.
So this is a very fascinating read for anyone who likes their traditional narrative history, galloping across the centuries. It was written in 1987, just before the latest upheaval and rebirth, so maybe there is an updated edition. One of my favourite history books.
To the average inhabitant of Western Europe, the history of Poland is a yawning chasm whose edges are obscured by an overhang of accepted commonplaces (what a beautiful phrase!) - that the Poles are a romantic people, good at fighting, riding, dancing and drinking, pathologically incapable of organisation or stable self-government, condemned by geography and their own ineptitude to be the victims of history.
Sounds harsh, coming from a Polish American, and a little unreasonable for anyone in the year 2013, but he's referring to the melodramatic facts that Poland as a country was removed from the map of Europe not once, but twice, first by Austria and Prussia, and secondly by Hitler and Stalin. Poland appears in Europe as the restaurant where despots may dine without paying the bill.
An English or an American person will at some fundamental level never really be able to understand the anxieties of being European. We assume that all these countries we see delineated neatly on the political maps have always been there - always been a France there, and a Germany about there, Spain is the bit that sticks out here and Italy looks like a boot kicking an oblong football. What's the problem? But the entire history of Europe has been like a kaleidoscope, someone always grabbing it and giving it a shake to make a new arrangement of borders and peoples. Some towns changes their states three or four times in a hundred years. Some countries disappeared. And all this chaos is not something from the 17th century, the latest version of it was the breakup of Yugoslavia, 1990-1999. This is why the EC is such an article of faith among the political elite - they think "never again"!
The USA and Great Britain can't really get this on an emotional level, they've never been invaded, they did the invading. (All right, there was the Norman Conquest in 1066, I'll give you that. That was just a change of management and a new set of accountants came in to perform an audit (the Doomsday Book). No big deal. ) Can't imagine the USA or Great Britain ever being wiped off the map. But if you're Polish, you can imagine no Poland.
So this is a very fascinating read for anyone who likes their traditional narrative history, galloping across the centuries. It was written in 1987, just before the latest upheaval and rebirth, so maybe there is an updated edition. One of my favourite history books.
May 1, 2012
Just as Zamoyski puts it, Poland is the one big European nation which remains almost ignored to this day, invisible to the main public. We hardly have even stereotypes about them! And yet, their role in European history was almost as important as that of France.
I doubt whether giving it four stars instead of three. It was definitely a good book. If you have no clue about the history of Poland and suddenly want to be able to hold a conversation about the country (in other words, if you meet a cute Polish girl as I did) then this is your book. Aside from the facts, the book makes a good effort to describe the evolution of art and literature. There is an underlying thesis all along where Poland is seen as some sort of political experiment. Apparently the country was the only mature democracy east of the Rhine, and Zamoyski explains how Germans and Russians did their best to smash it.
You take the chance when the monarchy feels weak, you create a strong parliament, you hold elections and defend your political rights for three centuries, you keep church and state apart in the middle of a continent devastated by wars of religion and then, eventually, Prussia and Russia invade and seize the land. This is basically Polish history between XVI-XVIII centuries. So bad and so interesting.
I doubt whether giving it four stars instead of three. It was definitely a good book. If you have no clue about the history of Poland and suddenly want to be able to hold a conversation about the country (in other words, if you meet a cute Polish girl as I did) then this is your book. Aside from the facts, the book makes a good effort to describe the evolution of art and literature. There is an underlying thesis all along where Poland is seen as some sort of political experiment. Apparently the country was the only mature democracy east of the Rhine, and Zamoyski explains how Germans and Russians did their best to smash it.
You take the chance when the monarchy feels weak, you create a strong parliament, you hold elections and defend your political rights for three centuries, you keep church and state apart in the middle of a continent devastated by wars of religion and then, eventually, Prussia and Russia invade and seize the land. This is basically Polish history between XVI-XVIII centuries. So bad and so interesting.
January 4, 2009
A good into to Polish history
May 23, 2020
Eigenlijk weten we veel en veel te weinig van dit bijzondere land. Het blijft verbluffend hoe vrij dit land in de periode 1400-1600 was voor bijvoorbeeld Joden. En hoeveel ruimte intellectuele denkers kregen, zoals Copernicus #begrijpjijcentraaleuropanog
December 5, 2016
I don't generally like general survey histories. I prefer in depth studies of a particular place, time or theme. But my knowledge of Polish history was sorely lacking and what little I knew was from the German or Russian point of view. This book helped to fill the large gap in my knowledge, covering the entire history of Poland from its beginnings as a nation through the mid-1980's. I had known, for example, that in the period before the partition of Poland, the Polish government had grown dysfunctional though the system of elected kings and the tradition of the legislative veto that allowed a single noble to stand in the way of government action, but I hadn't known that this system functioned reasonably well in a democratic pluralistic society for more than a hundred years before it was undermined by Poland's undemocratic, greedy and repressive neighbors. Now that I have a better sense of Poland's place in history from a Polish point of view, I look forward to learning more about specific eras and events, particularly the late Middle Ages and Renaissance when Poland flourished, having been spared the ravages of the Black Death and religious conflicts that threw the rest of Europe into turmoil.
August 2, 2020
I struggle to think of a book that took me longer to read! This was a slow one, but certainly not for lack of interesting material! It probably could have been framed in more exciting terms, but Polish history is well worth studying.
August 18, 2020
Overall, this book is a decent way to get a good sweep of the arc of the history of the western civilization that has existed in what would now be considered Poland; the political and military struggles around defining those borders, as so many countries have had.
It also will shotgun you with information about Polish art/culture. I'm not very interested in art history or architecture, and the author would routinely start talking about architectural stylings, or artists and the way they blended different trends and my eyes would start to gloss over. I would estimate about two-thirds of the illustrations/images are about that as well. If you like that, great, it just isn't for me.
I imagine the author was particularly interested in bringing awareness to lesser known figures, because that's the only reason why I can figure that he would write three brief lines on Chopin, and not even half a sentence on Maria Skłodowska, while talking fairly extensively about other expats. Given he has an entire book on Chopin, it's certainly not for lack of material.
While the book is laid out fairly chronologically, there were multiple occasions where his subject would lurch fifty or a hundred years into the past to talk about something else.
As a non-Catholic, I'm less than fond of his blaming the Church and the Jesuits for Poland's problems in the late beginning of the book, although I must admit that my concerns of his disdain for the Church in general was alleviated in later parts when he credits them for fighting against fascism and socialism's destruction of the country.
Finally, my biggest personal beef with the book is the complete lack of citations or footnoting. At the very beginning the author notes that he won't be citing anything, as everything contained in is widely known fact. I prefer footnotes in my reading, and when I tried to find the basis for several anecdotes and facts included via Google, was unable to turn up any trace. Doubtless he does have actual references -- the further reading notes that much of the scholarship is, naturally enough, not natively in English -- but I would still prefer references.
It also will shotgun you with information about Polish art/culture. I'm not very interested in art history or architecture, and the author would routinely start talking about architectural stylings, or artists and the way they blended different trends and my eyes would start to gloss over. I would estimate about two-thirds of the illustrations/images are about that as well. If you like that, great, it just isn't for me.
I imagine the author was particularly interested in bringing awareness to lesser known figures, because that's the only reason why I can figure that he would write three brief lines on Chopin, and not even half a sentence on Maria Skłodowska, while talking fairly extensively about other expats. Given he has an entire book on Chopin, it's certainly not for lack of material.
While the book is laid out fairly chronologically, there were multiple occasions where his subject would lurch fifty or a hundred years into the past to talk about something else.
As a non-Catholic, I'm less than fond of his blaming the Church and the Jesuits for Poland's problems in the late beginning of the book, although I must admit that my concerns of his disdain for the Church in general was alleviated in later parts when he credits them for fighting against fascism and socialism's destruction of the country.
Finally, my biggest personal beef with the book is the complete lack of citations or footnoting. At the very beginning the author notes that he won't be citing anything, as everything contained in is widely known fact. I prefer footnotes in my reading, and when I tried to find the basis for several anecdotes and facts included via Google, was unable to turn up any trace. Doubtless he does have actual references -- the further reading notes that much of the scholarship is, naturally enough, not natively in English -- but I would still prefer references.
December 22, 2010
A non-romanticized history of the LEAST understood nation in Europe. Made me even prouder to be half-Polish!
February 11, 2020
In many ways this book is a fascinating one. As someone who is not appreciably Polish in any way, but who finds the history of Eastern Europe interesting and revealing and somewhat important for contemporary historical concerns as well as a general understanding of Christendom, I tend to be amused at the focus that writers on Polish history tend to have. And while this book does its best not to romanticize the Polish experience or to claim that Poland was blameless in its historical troubles, in many ways this book demonstrates some of the facets of Polish identity that tend to be wrapped up in books about Poland that are written by Polish historians, even those who attempt to appeal to non-Polish anglophone audiences. This book is written with an intense Catholic perspective, and moreover a perspective that allows the reader to understand how it has been that Poland has served in an uncomfortable relationship between those on either side of it, whether we are looking at German imperial ambitions or Russian ones, whether we are looking at Catholicism or heathen faiths, whether we are looking at Crusaders or invading Ottomans, and so on and so forth. This understanding of Poland and its struggle to form and maintain a coherent identity in the face of nearly continual border changes throughout its history is a compelling one.
This book is about 400 pages long and is divided into 22 chapters in a generally chronological approach. The author begins with a preface and a note on Polish pronunciations (so that the reader understands that Sejm is pronounced as something like "same"). After that there is a discussion of Poland's isolation from the practical concern of Western nations during its crisis periods (1) as well as the establishment of the Polish crown (2) and the struggle against Germans and Tartars in early Polish history (3). After that comes a look at the rule of the Jagiellon dynasty (4) as well as the relationship between church and state (5) and the status of Poland as a royal republic (6). The author discusses anarchy in the Polish experience (7), the crisis involved in this during the 17th and 18th centuries (8), and the importance of the Hussars (9). The author discusses the problems of the Deluge (10), the anatomy of Polish decay (11), the baroque aspects of its culture and architecture (12), as well as the increasing anarchy (13) that culminated in the end of the Polish monarchy (14). After that the author discusses the gentle revolution that took place after Poland's disappearance (15), the heroic efforts of Poles to bring attention to their national cause (16), the Polish question as it appeared to other empires (17), and the experience of Poles in colonial captivity (18). The author then ends with a look at the making of modern Poland (19), the experience of the interwar Polish republic (20), the ordeal of World War II (21), and the people and plans that became important thereafter (22) before ending in suggestions for further reading and an index.
The fact that this is a very good book in terms of its text does not mean that everything about it is as enjoyable. For one, this book is somewhat tedious when it comes to a look at Roman Catholic religious art, as this book is full of an interest in such matters that I must admit I do not find all that worthwhile. The sight of ornate Roman Catholic cathedrals or altars or religious iconography or religious art is not a personally very appealing one, but given the importance of Roman Catholicism to the Polish identity and to the nation's history it is not surprising that the author would wish to focus on this aspect in his history of Poland. It was especially interesting to note the particular Polish interest in freedom and in the confusion this focus on freedom and on the reality of constitutional forms as it related to the Polish experience under Russian misrule. The book is also somewhat melancholy in the way that it discusses how Poland finally came to be a coherent and unified nation state through the loss of non-Polish territories in Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine as well as the forced expulsion of Germans after World War II and the near-destruction of its prewar Jewish population. Sometimes unity comes at a terrible price.
This book is about 400 pages long and is divided into 22 chapters in a generally chronological approach. The author begins with a preface and a note on Polish pronunciations (so that the reader understands that Sejm is pronounced as something like "same"). After that there is a discussion of Poland's isolation from the practical concern of Western nations during its crisis periods (1) as well as the establishment of the Polish crown (2) and the struggle against Germans and Tartars in early Polish history (3). After that comes a look at the rule of the Jagiellon dynasty (4) as well as the relationship between church and state (5) and the status of Poland as a royal republic (6). The author discusses anarchy in the Polish experience (7), the crisis involved in this during the 17th and 18th centuries (8), and the importance of the Hussars (9). The author discusses the problems of the Deluge (10), the anatomy of Polish decay (11), the baroque aspects of its culture and architecture (12), as well as the increasing anarchy (13) that culminated in the end of the Polish monarchy (14). After that the author discusses the gentle revolution that took place after Poland's disappearance (15), the heroic efforts of Poles to bring attention to their national cause (16), the Polish question as it appeared to other empires (17), and the experience of Poles in colonial captivity (18). The author then ends with a look at the making of modern Poland (19), the experience of the interwar Polish republic (20), the ordeal of World War II (21), and the people and plans that became important thereafter (22) before ending in suggestions for further reading and an index.
The fact that this is a very good book in terms of its text does not mean that everything about it is as enjoyable. For one, this book is somewhat tedious when it comes to a look at Roman Catholic religious art, as this book is full of an interest in such matters that I must admit I do not find all that worthwhile. The sight of ornate Roman Catholic cathedrals or altars or religious iconography or religious art is not a personally very appealing one, but given the importance of Roman Catholicism to the Polish identity and to the nation's history it is not surprising that the author would wish to focus on this aspect in his history of Poland. It was especially interesting to note the particular Polish interest in freedom and in the confusion this focus on freedom and on the reality of constitutional forms as it related to the Polish experience under Russian misrule. The book is also somewhat melancholy in the way that it discusses how Poland finally came to be a coherent and unified nation state through the loss of non-Polish territories in Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine as well as the forced expulsion of Germans after World War II and the near-destruction of its prewar Jewish population. Sometimes unity comes at a terrible price.
August 24, 2020
This is epic history. This is the story of Poland with all its warts and glory. From its origins as one of many Slavic peoples in eastern Europe when the Roman Empire fell. How it grew and became the dominant force for hundreds of years. Yet, a diverse group of peoples that united with its internal divisions kept in control, mostly. Poland is not so much a country as a culture of diversity. It valued freedom and independent action to the point of virtual anarchy. The humiliation of the partition era (1772 -1795) where it was divided up between Prussia, Russia, and the Habsburgs of Austria. Its brief rise after Napoleon and its absorption into Russia. Its efforts at rebellion crushed. Rising like a phoenix after World War I and its destruction during World War II. Its spirit and culture endured. It had to go through yet another rebirth with the Solidarity movement on the slow march to throwing off the Soviet Union’s thumb.
The book has a strong focus on culture, art, architecture, and literature. Nothing in depth but features long listings of those who contributed to its growth and uniqueness. A good source to get names of significant people for further research. There are no footnotes but a good bibliography. For such a large topic, it could use a summary chapter at the end to wrap things up with some overall picture of Poland’s achievements and problems over the centuries.
It does not cover where my grandfather came from within Poland or his journey to the United States in the early 20th century, but I will let that slide.
The book has a strong focus on culture, art, architecture, and literature. Nothing in depth but features long listings of those who contributed to its growth and uniqueness. A good source to get names of significant people for further research. There are no footnotes but a good bibliography. For such a large topic, it could use a summary chapter at the end to wrap things up with some overall picture of Poland’s achievements and problems over the centuries.
It does not cover where my grandfather came from within Poland or his journey to the United States in the early 20th century, but I will let that slide.
June 12, 2025
Fascinante aproximación a un país del cual desconocía prácticamente todo. Altamente legible y didáctico sin, al menos en mi opinión, perder profundidad alguna. Me hubiese gustado encontrar más detalles sobre el impresionante catolicismo que caracteriza a la Polonia moderna, aunque entiendo que quizás este no era el libro más indicado para ello. Asimismo, eché en falta una mayor profundización en la geografía del país.
Sobre Polonia, puedo decir que fue una sorpresa total encontrarme con sus repetidas desapariciones como nación, su resiliencia y su continuo renacer. Qué capacidad tan mística tiene este pueblo para reaparecer una y otra vez. Para levantarse frente a los gigantes que lo rodean y, en ocasiones, alcanzar su estatura. En particular, me sorprendió la estructura de monarquía democrática pseudo-parlamentaria con la que se gobernaron en la Edad Media; no sabía que tal modelo había existido en aquella época. No es sorpresa que Polonia sea, en muchos sentidos, la verdadera tumba del comunismo (lo siento, Rubén Blades, pero no lo es Latinoamérica).
Ni de aquí ni de allá, sin ser de modo alguno exclusivamente una frontera. Límite y puente entre Europa y Asia; entre el catolicismo y el islam; entre los eslavos y los teutones. Refugio de judíos y de incontables minorías europeas durante siglos. Escenario de algunas de las atrocidades más grandes cometidas en el continente. Y, tal vez, el país europeo con mayor éxito previsible en el futuro cercano.
Sobre Polonia, puedo decir que fue una sorpresa total encontrarme con sus repetidas desapariciones como nación, su resiliencia y su continuo renacer. Qué capacidad tan mística tiene este pueblo para reaparecer una y otra vez. Para levantarse frente a los gigantes que lo rodean y, en ocasiones, alcanzar su estatura. En particular, me sorprendió la estructura de monarquía democrática pseudo-parlamentaria con la que se gobernaron en la Edad Media; no sabía que tal modelo había existido en aquella época. No es sorpresa que Polonia sea, en muchos sentidos, la verdadera tumba del comunismo (lo siento, Rubén Blades, pero no lo es Latinoamérica).
Ni de aquí ni de allá, sin ser de modo alguno exclusivamente una frontera. Límite y puente entre Europa y Asia; entre el catolicismo y el islam; entre los eslavos y los teutones. Refugio de judíos y de incontables minorías europeas durante siglos. Escenario de algunas de las atrocidades más grandes cometidas en el continente. Y, tal vez, el país europeo con mayor éxito previsible en el futuro cercano.
November 10, 2017
In depth history about the Polish people, culture, economy, and the change that followed.
There's some pictures but most of the book is very with information and can sometimes be a struggle to read as the author has so much information. Yet he still presents it in a way which makes the reading interesting. It's more of a story than a textbook.
Over 1000 years of Polish History, a major country in the past basically over looked by the other countries. Did you know Poland had one of the longest running Democracies between two Powers, Germany and Russia, bent with doing away and keeping authoritarian rule.
There's some pictures but most of the book is very with information and can sometimes be a struggle to read as the author has so much information. Yet he still presents it in a way which makes the reading interesting. It's more of a story than a textbook.
Over 1000 years of Polish History, a major country in the past basically over looked by the other countries. Did you know Poland had one of the longest running Democracies between two Powers, Germany and Russia, bent with doing away and keeping authoritarian rule.
July 13, 2021
Great book to understand the "idea of Poland" - a country that has, often as not, existed in the minds of those who consider themselves Polish as in an actual place. The emphasis on cultural ideology makes this book a fun read - the people and ideas come alive. As someone who lives in "Polonia" (although I am not Polish), this provided me with many insights into my neighborhood and Polish family.
March 15, 2021
I didn't know anything about Poland until I read this book. This is a well-researched book telling in detail the history of Poland which is as rich as other European Countries. I was lost sometimes with the characters involved and the author could have simplified it a little, but it is incredible learning that Poland suffered from their neighboring countries. I hope to see Poland someday.
March 18, 2022
Kudos to Adam Zamoyski for his thorough history of Poland. His unbelievable research quoting the works of hundreds, if not thousands of Poles over the last five centuries tells a story like no other. The sheer will to survive keeps Poland alive even though it politically doesn't exist. An amazing story.
July 29, 2019
Great recommendation by Troy Gawlak. Definitely would recommend to any history buff.
March 6, 2010
Most books about Poland tend to be heavier on the what, where and how and have less of the ``why'' explaining why things happened. This book focuses on events in Poland that had an impact beyond Polish borders and has more of the ``why'' offering a greater understanding of how Poland and Poles evolved over the past 1,000 years. For example, a Polish tendency to question authority goes back centuries to the ways the original founders placed limits on their kings, minimizing taxes and government interference. Some of these freedoms from taxation and strong authority made Poland vulnerable to neighboring German and Russian nations but also helped them endure captivity from 1795 to 1918 and from 1939 to 1989. Read many other books on Poland before this but still found myself underlining a lot, learning a great deal. Definitely worth reading for anyone who wants to understand Poland, its role in history or Polish people. We're leading a trip to Poland this summer and this offered valuable guidance.
March 20, 2010
More popular history of Eastern Europe (or Central Europe, whatever). Perhaps a bit long on discussion of the practices 16th century Polish democracy and the relative productivity of its regions farm land. Nonetheless, The Polish Way is a pointed reminder of the primary role Poland has played in Western Culture and a fair unraveling of the country's convoluted past. Fun reading as well.
March 20, 2009
Interesting history of Poland from the Middle Ages through modern times. Covers the following of Polish intellectual life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the loss of the Polish state, and Poland's rebirth after World War I. The book was written in 1987, so it does not cover events all the way to the present.
August 28, 2009
Great book which details the history of poland. Lots of charts, pictures, and tables which help to display key information. Does not read as dry as some books & always reviews trends in the period of art/science and ties it in to the political situation
December 8, 2007
Pretty much my favorite of the books I've read on Polish history.
February 6, 2008
Good, easy to understand overview of Polish history.
May 15, 2009
Norman Davies' is better.
November 10, 2009
Ogólna książka na temat historii i kultury polskiej. Jest dobra na początek.
Good general view on Polish history and culture between 10th and 20th century. Good for a start.
Good general view on Polish history and culture between 10th and 20th century. Good for a start.
March 17, 2010
Poorly written and bombast at times, but a very informative and interesting account for the multi-faceted history of Poland.
January 24, 2011
This is a good, readable introduction to Polish History.
August 27, 2011
very nice overview. good to read in conjunction with the movie, "1612". complete (as much as possible) in its ouvre.
October 7, 2012
Highly recommended as a relatively short, readable introduction to one of the most amazing national cultures in the world.
January 7, 2014
A great break down of Poland's complex and intriguing history.
January 12, 2014
inspiring
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews