Wodka, or Tea with Milk

Wodka, or Tea with Milk is a novel set in 1980s Poland, following Marya Weiclawski's journey to find her Polish family and her father's RAF comrade. She becomes involved in shipyard strikes and falls in love with Jan, a shipyard worker with no family.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2023
Publisher: The Conrad Press

‘Wodka, or Tea with Milk’ is a captivating novel that takes readers on an immersive and thrilling journey through the Solidarnosc years in 1980s Poland. Marya Weiclawski, a second-generation British woman, is the daughter of Polish refugees who fled during World War Two. When her Cambridge University interview goes awry, she sets out to find her Polish family, whom no one speaks of, and her father's RAF comrade, Pyotr Murkowski, whom her beloved father, Jerzy, has suddenly stopped talking about. Marya becomes involved in the shipyard strikes in Gdansk in 1980 and falls in love with Jan, a shipyard worker. Jan is well-liked by his colleagues, unflappable, and down-to-earth, but he appears to have no family, which is everything in Poland.

The novel begins with Marya's arrival in Poland, where she is greeted by her aunt, who is a nurse at a local hospital. Marya is immediately struck by the stark contrast between the modernity of Poland and the poverty and hardship of the Solidarnosc years. She is also struck by the sense of community and solidarity that exists among the Polish people, despite the difficult circumstances they face.

Marya's search for her family takes her to various parts of Poland, including Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk. She meets with her aunt, uncle, and cousins, who are all eager to help her find her father. However, they are also hesitant to talk about their past, as they fear that it will bring back painful memories.

Marya's search for her father leads her to Pyotr Murkowski, who is now a retired RAF officer. Pyotr is initially reluctant to talk to Marya, but he eventually opens up to her and tells her about his experiences during the Solidarnosc years. He describes the brutal repression of the Solidarity movement by the Polish government and the sacrifices that he and his colleagues made to fight for their rights.

Marya is deeply moved by Pyotr's story and begins to understand the importance of Solidarnosc in Poland's history. She also begins to see the parallels between the Solidarity movement and the current political situation in Poland.

As Marya continues her search for her family, she also becomes involved in the shipyard strikes in Gdansk in 1980. The strikes are a response to the government's attempts to privatize the shipyard and to reduce the wages of the workers. Marya is drawn to the strikes because of her love for Jan, a shipyard worker who is one of the strike leaders.

The strikes are violent and chaotic, and Marya is caught in the middle of the action. She is arrested and beaten by the police, but she refuses to give up. She is eventually released and joins the strike leaders in their efforts to negotiate with the government.

Through her involvement in the strikes, Marya learns about the power of solidarity and the importance of standing up for what is right. She also learns about the sacrifices that the workers have made to fight for their rights and the importance of working together to achieve a common goal.

In the end, Marya's search for her family leads her to a greater understanding of Poland's history and the importance of Solidarnosc. She also learns about the power of love and the importance of standing up for what is right.

‘Wodka, or Tea with Milk’ is a beautifully written novel that captures the essence of the Solidarnosc years in Poland. It is a story of love, family, and the struggle for freedom and justice. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging and suspenseful. The novel also provides a valuable insight into the current political situation in Poland and the importance of standing up for what is right.

In conclusion, ‘Wodka, or Tea with Milk’ is a captivating novel that takes readers on an immersive and thrilling journey through the Solidarnosc years in 1980s Poland. It is a story of love, family, and the struggle for freedom and justice, and it provides a valuable insight into the current political situation in Poland. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in history, politics, or the human experience.

Dimension: 198 x 129 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915494672