A Long, Long Time Ago & Essentially True

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Synopsis
PEN/Hemingway Award Winner: A &“gorgeous&” novel weaving together stories of Poland past and present in one whimsically romantic epic (Chicago Tribune). On the eve of World War II, in a small Polish village, a young man nicknamed the Pigeon falls in love with a girl fabled for her angelic looks. To build a place in Anielica&’s heart, he transforms her family&’s modest hut into a beautiful home. But war arrives, cutting short their courtship and sending the young lovers off to the promise of a fresh start in Krakow. Nearly fifty years later, the couple&’s granddaughter, Beata, repeats this journey, seeking a new life in the fairy-tale city of her grandmother&’s stories. But instead of the rumored prosperity of the New Poland, she discovers a city full of frustrated youths, caught between its future and its past. Taken in by her tough-talking cousin, Irena, and her glamorous daughter, Magda, Beata struggles to find her own place in the world. But unexpected events—tragedies and miracles both—change lives and open eyes. &“A whimsical debut,&” (New York Times Book Review) A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True weaves together two remarkable stories, reimagining half a century of Polish history through the legacy of one unforgettable love affair. This magical, heartbreaking novel &“rings hauntingly, enchantingly, real&” (National Geographic Traveler). &“With a touch of Marina Lewycka and a dash of Captain Corelli&’s Mandolin, this is storytelling that gets under your skin and forces you to press copies into your best friends&’ hands.&” —Elle (UK) &“Funny and romantic like all the best true stories.&” —Charlotte Mendelson, author of When We Were Bad
Copyright:
2009

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
368 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780547428475
Related ISBNs:
9780547336282
Publisher:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
status in your country.
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Literature and Fiction, Parenting and Family
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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