My Name is Million: An Illustrated History of the Poles in America [Hardcover]

W. S. Kunicizak (Author), W. S. Kuniczak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999

This book is the story of those millions of Polish Americans whose quest for the American dream began in the blast furnaces, forges, quarries, and coal pits of the American Midwest-those whose dreams of and whose role in American life have, until now gone unrecognised.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

W S Kuniczak

Product Details

• Hardcover: 170 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books; First Edition edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781807603
• ISBN-13: 978-0781807609
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,097,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for people with a Polish heritage, July 26, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Toledo, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Name is Million: An Illustrated History of the Poles in America (Hardcover)

I am thrilled that I discovered this book! While I am only halfway through it, I am sure the second half will be equally as interesting. The Poles came to America with the first Europeans. This book factually lists all the contributions they made in the development of America. You will be amazed and proud! Kuniczak has a pleasant style of writing that makes this book easy to read. I am buying more copies to give as gifts to my children and to my friends of Polish descent.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Needs updating, February 2, 2007

By 

bukhtan (Chicago, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Name is Million: An Illustrated History of the Poles in America (Hardcover)

This book was published in 1978. Though the new Hippocrene printing (2000) is billed as an update, there have in fact been no changes made to the text. An "index of names" is appended; that is all.
Though the work still has considerable value (it is, after all, a history of a group who have been deeply involved in the United States since before the rebellion against Great Britain) it takes no account of the relation of the Poles to America since the rise of Solidarity and the demise of Communism and the superstate that imposed that perverse system on Poland. Readers will have to look elsewhere for an assessment of the effect of Polish independence on American migration and how both may have been influenced by globalization generally.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant Surprise, Easy Read, February 14, 2010

By 

Art2700 (California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: My Name is Million: An Illustrated History of the Poles in America (Hardcover)

I personally was most impressed that some of the most memerable words of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence were first written by the Polish political philosipher named Goslicki in the 1500s "We take these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights..." and the list of rights enumerated thereafter such as freedom of speech, religion, etc. It was touching to learn that Shakespeare so loved Goslicki that Shakespeare named the character Polonius (in Hamlet) in honor of Goslicki and his fatherland. Other fun facts: Architect Ralph Modjeska designed the Manhatten Bridge, Oakland Bay Bridge, and other record setting bridges. His mother Helena Modjeska (name shortened from the original Modrzejewska) was one of the most popular Shakspearian actresses in the early 20th century. Her house always hosted a "colony" of Polish entertainers, and it still stands as a museum in Orange County California, at the foot of Mount Modjeska which forms one peak of the "saddle" in Saddleback Mountain, Orange County's highest mountain. Her good friend Paderewski, the most famous pianist of his time, criss-crossed the United States in his private train displaying amazing wealth (reminding me of John Travolta and his 747). Many hollywood stars who changed their names to more anglo-saxon sounding names. Find out who they are - buy the book! It's fun history!

I agree with Karolinka who's review said it will make people of Polish heritage proud. Examples: Many Polish military officers and major bankers traveled to America even before 1776 to raise money for, and fight in, America's War of Independence against Britain. Mind boggling to find out how much money the Polish bankers raised and the military successes of these Polish officers in America's war! Sometimes called the "Father of American Cavalry" Casimir Pulaski spent $50,000 of his own to recruit, outfit, and train his own cavalry in his own way in preparation for active duty (he was born to a noble family and inherited 14 towns and over 100 villages in his native Poland). With Cavalry and foot soldiers, the Pulaski Legion was the colonists' first true fully trained cavalry, scoring immediate victories against the British. Pulaski was given a commission as Brigadier General and chief of cavalry in command of all cavalry of the American forces. After many victories, awards, and greatly respected by his soldiers, he died in Savanah GA in battle with the British. His body is interred in the rotunda of the White House. However, Most notable to me was a young military engineer named Koscziouszko who was so successful at building forts that the British were first anhiliated at a couple of these forts and then refused to attack his fort which was built in a very stratigic location he chose on the Hudson River, preventing the British from marching up the Hudson and dividing the colonies in two. This fort still stands today and is the home of West Point, America's prestigious academy for military officer training. The American Government gave Koscziouszko three black slaves (among other things) as reward and compensation for his military successes, and Koscziouszko immediately freed the men and stated "I came to America to fight for the freedom of all men, not just white men". He started the Koscziouszko Foundation and willed all his American estate to it, for the support of freed former slaves. Thomas Jefferson said of him "Koscziouszko is the greatest son of Liberty the world has ever known". Koscziouszko died in Poland in 1793 fighting for the freedom of his own fatherland against the Russians who occupied his homeland for the next 123 years, and installed a communist dictatorship until 1991.

I agree with Bukhtan who's review said this book needs updating because it does not include anything since the 70s (?) - I can't wait! It also needs to be footnoted. If Kuniczak does an update I'm first in line to purchase!