A Small Town in Ukraine: The place we came from, the place we went back to

Bernard Wasserstein's book "A Small Town in Ukraine" explores the hidden past of Krakowiec, a town forty miles west of Lviv, and its dramatic and traumatic history. He traces the arc of history across centuries of religious and political conflict, including the Age of Enlightenment, the Habsburg emperors, and the Second World War. The book also features Wasserstein's own family, who become a prism through which we can feel the shocking immediacy of history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

A remarkable and profoundly moving work of history and memoir, Philippe Sands delves into the hidden past of Krakowiec, a town forty miles west of Lviv, where his family originated. In this captivating book, Sands recounts the dramatic and traumatic history of the town. I am deeply interested in observing and understanding how some of the great forces that shaped our times impacted ordinary individuals. The result is an exceptional, often moving book that showcases Wasserstein's exceptional talent.

Wasserstein traces the arc of history across centuries of religious and political conflict, as armies of Cossacks, Turks, Swedes, and Muscovites ravaged the region. In the Age of Enlightenment, the Polish magnate Ignacy Cetner built his palace at Krakowiec, creating an arcadia of refinement and serenity with his vivacious daughter, Princess Anna. Under the Habsburg emperors after 1772, Krakowiec developed into a typical shtetl, with a bustling population of Poles, Ukrainians, and Jews. However, disaster struck in 1914, as seven years of terror and carnage left a legacy of ferocious national antagonisms. During the Second World War, Wasserstein vividly describes the horrifying circumstances in which the Jews were murdered. After the war, the Poles were expelled, and the town dwindled into a border outpost. Today, Krakowiec is once again experiencing the storm of history, as refugees flee for their lives from Ukraine to Poland.

Throughout the book, Wasserstein's own family, particularly his grandfather Berl, serves as a focal point, allowing us to empathize with the people of Krakowiec and feel the shocking immediacy of history. A Small Town in Ukraine is a masterpiece of recovery and insight, showcasing Wasserstein's exceptional ability to uncover and share the stories of ordinary individuals who lived through extraordinary times. This book is a testament to the power of history to connect us with our past and inspire us to shape our future.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241609224