Joanna Czechowska was born in Derby, the daughter of a Polish father, who was an RAF pilot during the war, and an English mother. She studied history at UCL and Birkbeck College, University of London. She has worked in London as a journalist for 30 years and is currently Book Review Editor for Woman magazine.
The Black Madonna of Derby is a novel about three generations of a Polish immigrant family living in England in the 1960s and 1970s. The story moves between the provincial town of Derby to London then Warsaw and Krakow in Poland as the family deal with two cultures, secrets from the past, tragedy and ultimately redemption. It was originally published in Poland in Polish under the title Goodbye Polsko and the sequel Sweetest Enemy came out in 2012.
Debi Alper said, 'Intelligently written, with a wry and gentle humour, The Black Madonna of Derby provides a vivid and topical insight into three generations of a Polish immigrant family as they struggle to find a balance between two cultures.'
www.jczechowska.com
The Black Madonna of Derby: Amazon.co.uk: Joanna Czechowska: 9780955884009: Books
My Review
I was intrigued to read this story as it
recounts the history of a Polish family moving to Derby in the 1960s. The
author brought back many memories of my time in Poland as well as developing
some fantastic characters. In fact, it is almost like reading a fascinating
memoir and whilst the author has drawn on her own experiences it is difficult
at times to believe this is fiction. If you’re looking for a well-written
heartwarming story that will move you to tears as well as smile then this is
for you. I loved the evocation of the era and this book deserves to reach a
wider audience.
4.5/5
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