
Riding History to Death
Confessions of a Battered Rider
Karol Modzelewski(Author)
Frank L. Vigoda(Editor)
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published on 4. May 2021
Book
Hardback
402 pages
978-1-5381-4161-8 (ISBN)
Description
This powerful memoir traces the life of Karol Modzelewski, one of the preeminent Polish dissidents of the twentieth century. With humor and perception, Modzelewski describes his formative years. Born in 1937 to a Polish-born mother and Russian-Jewish father in Moscow, he spent his early schooling and underwent deep indoctrination in the Soviet Union. In 1945 he moved with his mother and stepfather, a prominent communist, to Poland when his stepfather was appointed as foreign minister in Warsaw. In the relatively "liberal" Polish atmosphere, Modzelewski gradually awoke to the realities of the party system during his university years.
Modzelewski discusses the experiences and realizations that led him in 1964 to coauthor with Jacek Kuron the famous "Open Letter to the Party," for which he and Kuron were imprisoned. With keen critical insight, Modzelewski describes his role as one of the leading intellectuals of the Solidarity movement.
Much more than mere autobiography, this nuanced book is a profound and highly critical analysis of Polish politics over the last fifty years. Characteristically, Modzelewski refuses to portray events in black and white terms, providing a frank assessment of the country's evolution from communism to democracy, the genesis of Polish dissidence and its success in dismantling communism, and the causes of the current crisis of democracy in Poland.
Modzelewski discusses the experiences and realizations that led him in 1964 to coauthor with Jacek Kuron the famous "Open Letter to the Party," for which he and Kuron were imprisoned. With keen critical insight, Modzelewski describes his role as one of the leading intellectuals of the Solidarity movement.
Much more than mere autobiography, this nuanced book is a profound and highly critical analysis of Polish politics over the last fifty years. Characteristically, Modzelewski refuses to portray events in black and white terms, providing a frank assessment of the country's evolution from communism to democracy, the genesis of Polish dissidence and its success in dismantling communism, and the causes of the current crisis of democracy in Poland.
Reviews / Votes
Karol Modzelewski was one of the most creative and important figures in Poland's twentieth-century struggles for freedom and democracy. He has written a brilliant memoir documenting his path, which was awarded Poland's most prestigious literary prize, Nike, in 2014. A must-read! -- Jan T. Gross, Princeton University Karol Modzelewski-a pioneer and icon of the Polish democratic movement against the totalitarian regime-was a prominent medievalist, an engaging orator, and a courageous, insightful, and charming man. His autobiography reads like a detective novel intertwined with a classic tale of the enduring human condition. -- Adam Michnik, Editor-in-Chief, Gazeta Wyborcza The demons of the twentieth century have not been banished, and the wise words of those who confronted them are too often forgotten. Karol Modzelewski has much to teach us about courage, honesty, and freedom. This memoir is an invaluable source in Polish history and a guide to living on the Left. -- Timothy Snyder, Yale UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
28 b/w photos;
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
731 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5381-4161-8 (9781538141618)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2021
1st Edition
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
€90.99
Available for download

E-Book
05/2021
1st Edition
Bloomsbury eBooks US
€90.99
Available for download
Persons
Karol Modzelewski (1937-2019) was among the most prominent Polish dissidents of the twentieth century and was a professor of medieval studies at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.
Author
Editor
Introduction
Translation
Content
Glossary of Abbreviations and Local Names
From the Translator
Introduction: In the Very Heart of History
Irena Grudzinska Gross
Author's Note
1 Children of the Homeland
2 We Are the ZMP
3 A Revolution in Need of Repair
4 The Right of Self-Defense
5 The Prison Side of the World
6 Socialism with Gierek's Face
7 Our Union of Brothers
8 Postwar
9 Liberty without Brotherhood
Epilogue
I Had Two Souls : A Conversation with Karol Modzelewski
Timeline
Compiled by Karol Modzelewski
From the Translator
Introduction: In the Very Heart of History
Irena Grudzinska Gross
Author's Note
1 Children of the Homeland
2 We Are the ZMP
3 A Revolution in Need of Repair
4 The Right of Self-Defense
5 The Prison Side of the World
6 Socialism with Gierek's Face
7 Our Union of Brothers
8 Postwar
9 Liberty without Brotherhood
Epilogue
I Had Two Souls : A Conversation with Karol Modzelewski
Timeline
Compiled by Karol Modzelewski