by W. S. Kuniczak ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 16, 1978
From gallant officers in the Revolutionary War to bruising football heroes, the Polish contribution to the making of America has been continuous and rich. Kuniczak's aim is to showcase--with a lavish collection of photographs--neglected Polish-Americans beginning with the glassblowers and pitchmakers who arrived in Jamestown in 1608. Though Count Pulaski, ""The Father of the American Cavalry,"" and Taddeus Kosciuszko who set up the fortifications at Saratoga, both became Yankee heroes, the same can't be said for the military-minded Pole who led a ""patriot army"" in the 1837 invasion of Canada. Kuniczak notes that in the first half of the 19th century Poles arrived only in ""wavelets""; most remained in Europe in hopes of liberating their homeland. But Galveston, Texas--of all places--had a preview of the coming tide in 1854 when 800 native-clad Polish peasants landed with their bedding and pots and pans. In the early years of mass immigration, their lives in the Pennsylvania coal fields and the Gary, Indiana, steel mills were backbreakingly hard--and, Kuniczak hypothesizes, beyond melting-pot reach; speaking a variety of regional dialects, they found their ""Polish identity"" and ""ethnic solidarity"" in the U.S. when they reacted against the disdain of the English-speaking natives. Though a streak of Polish romanticism can be found in Kuniczak's own writing, he is generally discerning, and especially so on the touchy subject of the Poles' longstanding lack of enthusiasm for higher education for their sons and (especially) their daughters. A fine, unpedantic introduction for the grandchildren and their neighbors.
Pub Date: June 16, 1978
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: N/A
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1978
Categories: NONFICTION
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.