John A. Stelnicki and Iris Hart
Published:
Total Pages: 257
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A literary masterpiece that waited over 200 years to be discovered! This unique diary is a first-hand account by a refreshingly naïve and sensitive young aristocrat unwittingly caught up in the brutal armed invasion of her beloved homeland, Poland. Replete with historical and cultural facts, it amazingly reads more like a mystery novel. Countess Anna and her writings miraculously survived fires, blizzards, murderous pillaging, imprisonment, and narrow escapes from death. The violence inflicted on her person parallels that suffered by her country. Nevertheless, there is levity in Anna's unprecedented descriptions of people from all social classes, and poignancy in her emotions concerning love. This intimate narrative cries through to generations beyond, disclosing such vital issues, still current, such as rape victimization, unplanned pregnancy, forced marriage, social class injustices, constraining traditions, assaults on women, forced confinement, war, betrayal ..., thus linking that bygone era with life today. Our fascinating heroine also can't restrain herself from peeking into and secretly copying down portions of her lascivious cousin Sophia's diary. In "My Delights," Sophia blatantly recounts her wanton sexual adventures. Both Anna and Sophia, as well as the other unforgettable characters, cope quite diversely with the final full capitulation of their country, Europe's first constitutional democracy.