The Black Madonna of Derby

Author/Guide: Joanna Czechowska

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1960s, 1970s:A unique story about second generation Poles in the UK.

ISBN: 978-0955884009
Genre: Fiction

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What you need to know before your trail

This is the story of a little told story – of how some 120,000 Poles were given leave to remain in the UK as thanks for their help during the conflict – and what happened afterwards. How did they settle in their new homes faced with a new language, new customs and being forced to leave their homeland due to the most imaginable horror. How would you feel not being able to return home and fearful for the future?

This is the fictional account of one family – the Baran family living in a provincial town in England. Their seemingly ordinary existence in fact hides secrets of past betrayal, madness and tragedy.

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Travel Guide

Derby to Poland

Babcia is 69 and living in Derby – she hates television and hates bad behaved children. She’s been in England for seven years bt has so far only learnted the words ‘ hello’ ‘ goobye’ and ‘oparnsiop’ and she does used them but only goes to buy food in the little Polish shop in Irongate.

When she talks about dying she was to be buried in the land of her fathers next to her husband. She even goes as far as to say that if it’s too expensive, she wants her heart taken out and taken there instead!

The difference in attitudes between the old and the young is sad to see – younger people learn the language where the simple changes like television and a different way of behaving (children especially) seem to jolt them out of their comfort zone. This is a hard life to have to live – a forced existence and a difficult to alight yourself with your new identity when home is calling you.

“That’s the way it is with us Poles – it’s always either the Germans or the Russian, The Russian or the Germans”
As the stories unfold, the true horror of the war in Poland, their flight to the UK and their struggles since bring tears to your eye and a new understanding of who war continued to change people’s lives long after the last gun had been silenced.