Book Review - Entwined Histories: Essays on Poland, Britain and Cultural Memory
Entwined Histories is a collection of essays written by diplomat, scholar, and author, Piotr Wilczek. As the title suggests, the essays aim to highlight the shared history between Poland and Britain, something that hasn’t been written about extensively before.
Rather than focussing on the more typical connections between the two nations, such as official policy and visits, Wilczek takes a unique approach by drawing attention to the reality of diplomacy, including conversations, observations, food, culture, and more. Each section of the book explores a different theme, such as traditions, shared histories, literature, and faith.
Wilczek argues that diplomacy is shaped by personal encounters and conversations and not just policies and treaties, with a great deal of diplomacy actually taking place under the radar and not just via official processes. He focuses on how the everyday life and interactions of diplomats is just as important and influential.
Unlike many other history books, Wilczek says he doesn’t aim to draw any specific conclusions through these essays but instead endeavours to create a “record of observations made in the margins of official life” and to provide readers with an opportunity to think further on these observations.
Throughout the book, the author explores key individuals who have had a significant impact on the shared history of Poland and Britain, such as Edward Raczyński, Stanisław Maczek, and Krystyna Skarbek. Wilczek explores their fascinating lives and contributions in great detail, providing the reader with a greater understanding of key individuals who may have been overlooked by traditional history books.
Something I found particularly interesting was reading about the author’s observations of Polish culture in London. During the Second World War, following the Nazi-Soviet occupation of Poland, a Polish government-in-exile was established in London, which continued until the end of the Soviet occupation in 1990. With this also came a continuation of Polish culture, also in exile. For example, the BBC Polish Section was established in 1939 to provide reports on the world outside occupation as well as reporting on literature and even teaching English to its listeners.
Wilczek’s experiences as a Polish Ambassador to the UK and the United States provide him with a unique and fascinating insight into the relationship between Poland and the UK as well as the intricacies of diplomacy, which makes this book a truly interesting and eye-opening read.
The book is well structured and easy to read, with the author not expecting the reader to have much, or any, prior knowledge of the subject, which is quite refreshing for a non-fiction book.
I really enjoyed this book and felt like I learnt a lot and would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of history, culture, or diplomacy.
The book is well structured and easy to read, with the author not expecting the reader to have much, or any, prior knowledge of the subject, which is quite refreshing for a non-fiction book.
I really enjoyed this book and felt like I learnt a lot and would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of history, culture, or diplomacy.
