Falling into Place: A Story of Love, Poland, and the Making of a Travel Writer

Working as a feature writer in 1976, Thomas Swick falls in love with a Polish student named Haina and moves to Warsaw. The next decade sees him living in Poland, Greece, and New York, witnessing the rise of Solidarity and the imposition of martial law. In 1989, he watches Hania vote in her country's first free elections since pre-war independence and lands his dream job as a travel writer. Falling into Place is a personal story of a young man's discovery of the world and his development as a travel writer, intertwined with the story of the revolution that altered history.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

In 1976, Thomas Swick, a feature writer, finds himself captivated by a visiting Polish student named Haina, leading him to relocate to Warsaw. Over the ensuing decade, he embarks on a journey that takes him across Poland, Greece, and New York. Despite declining an offer to become a Polish informer, he witnesses the profound impact of John Paul II's first visit to his homeland as Pope, the rise of Solidarity, and the subsequent imposition of martial law in Poland. He also participates in the pilgrimage to Częstochowa, a nine-day protest march that transforms into a religious rite. In 1989, he witnesses Hania exercise her right to vote in her country's first free elections since pre-war independence. One month later, he achieves his dream job as a travel writer.

Falling into Place is a captivating personal narrative that intertwines the author's exploration of the world with his journey of self-discovery. It is also a poignant love story, as Thomas and Haina navigate cultural differences, communist bureaucracy, and periods of separation. At the same time, the book weaves the story of the revolution that shaped history, particularly in Eastern Europe during the Cold War era. As the world's attention returns to this region, this memoir offers valuable insights for Americans seeking to understand the complexities of the past and the ongoing dynamics in Eastern Europe.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538181775