The Black Madonna of Derby is going on a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. If you wish to participate please contact me on rachel@rachelsrandomresources.com with your name, blog name, preferred post type and availability.
The Black Madonna of Derby by Joanna Czechowska
Genre: General Fiction
Tour Dates: 3rd August 2020
Publication Date: October 2008 but just published in Audible
Formats available: UK and US Audible Codes
Standalone Audio Book
Estimated Run Time - 9 hours
Types of post available: Review Only
Purchase Link: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Black-Madonna-of-Derby-Audiobook/B086Q88GLF
During and after the Second World War, 200,000 Poles were given leave to remain in the UK as thanks for their help during the conflict - this book is a fictional account of just one of those families. Set during the 1960s and 1970s, The Black Madonna of Derby traces the story of the Baran family living in a provincial town in England. Their seemingly ordinary existence hides secrets of past betrayal, madness, and tragedy.
The story focuses on three generations: the elderly grandmother whose proud Polish patriotism hides dark events from the past that affect the present, the mother whose tries to meld her past life in war-torn Poland and Germany with her new life in England and the granddaughter who lives a double life culturally and linguistically - Polish at home and English outside.
The swinging sixties in London is vividly recreated, as is the hardship of life under communism in the Poland of that time. This book is unique in that there are no other novels dealing with the story of second generation Poles in the UK. It is a story that deserves to be told, a story of a group of people who have had little attention in the literature. Listen to what they have to say.
About Joanna Czechowska
The daughter of a Polish father and English mother, Joanna Czechowska was born in Derby and studied history at University College London. She now works as a journalist. The Black Madonna of Derby, published in Polish under the title Goodbye Polsko, is her first novel.
1 Day Blog Blitz
Participating Blogs will appear here:
