In the Garden of Memory

• I don't remember when a story last evoked such emotions in me. Enormous ones—such that I will be processing them in my mind for a long time. Because although this is the story of a single family, the fates of all of us are reflected in it: weaknesses, the choices we make, the consequences we suffer, faith in systems, interpersonal bonds. Something wonderful. And a tremendous lesson in Polish history, unfortunately in many places terribly hard to swallow. Brilliant, highly recommend.

• The saga of an East European Jewish family through the challenges of World Wars I & II. A tribute to the courage and perseverance of the survivors as they come together in celebration.

• A particularly impressive family chronicle that reads like a thriller at times. Since it spans several generations from the end of the 19th century to the present, it gives you a clear picture of the evolution of life, traditions, and trends throughout that long period. But of course it also offers a perfect depiction of the different regimes, political developments, and dramas that unfolded.

• A brilliant book by the Polish author for which she was awarded the prestigious Polish Nike Literary Award... An autobiographical wartime story of the author's family... I found this book through the recommendation and help of the wonderful Milan Duškov, for which I am eternally grateful to him... In our country, very few Polish writers are translated and published...

• An extraordinarily well-told family history spanning two centuries. In 19th-century Poland, the marriage of the son of an Austrian rabbi and the daughter of a Polish merchant gives rise to a large, intellectually lively, and productive family. The descendant of this family depicts a vivid, illuminating history lesson from her perspective, drawn from family documents partly preserved despite bombings and persecution, and from the accounts of family members.

1 / 5