Customer Reviews

Old Polish Legends

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The foreword is written by Zygmunt Nowakowski, a famous Polish writer who sets the perfect tone and background for the stories. He starts us off with some lovely prose and then introduces us to this collection by saying "A Fairy-tale is knocking."

This is a very interesting assemblage of legends. Each of the little stories touches on some part of the history of Poland. Every story is complemented by a wood engraving made by J. Sekalski. The engravings give the book a charming Old World feeling. When I visited Poland several of these legends were mentioned in the brochures describing various landmark sites. This book offered me the opportunity to read the entire story in English

With the legends, the reader will learn:

1) Why the capital of ancient Poland was called Gniezno and the reason the eagle is the symbol;

2) About the downfall of wretched King Popiel;

3) How the city of Krakow was named and the evil dragon destroyed;

4) Why Queen Wanda threw herself in the Vistula River;

5) How the Piasts dynasty was started;

6) The story of Mieszko and how Poland became a Catholic country;

7) The legend of St. Adalbert;

8) The details of Emperor Otto's visit to Gniezno;

9) Why King Boleslaw and his Knights are just sleeping;

10) The story of two brothers who disobeyed the King;

11) and my personal favorite, the tale of the Trumpeter of Krakow and how, to this very day, he continues to inspire the people of Poland.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good and unusual story, and to all visitors to Poland. If you do have the opportunity to tour the city of Krakow, take a little walk on the wild side, and climb the tower of the Church of the Virgin Mary and stand at the very place where centuries ago, the Trumpeter played the famous hejnal. Yes, it's a long walk to the top, but well worth the effort.

This book was originally published during World War II in Scotland, home of the Polish Armed Forces in exile. There are eleven legends in this collection. One tells of a Duke who united the tribes and helped Poland develop and grow prosperous. Once, when he tried to take her eaglets from a mother eagle, she fought him so desperately she was wounded but would not give up. The Duke made that white eagle the badge of Poland, to symbolize freedom. Her blood was the symbol of bravery. Although most of the legends in the book are new to an American reader, "The Story of Popiel" is reminiscent of the stories of the Mouse Tower on the Rhine. This story is much more detailed than the German one. Familiar, too, is the story of "The Trumpeter of Krakow." A reader welcomes a new version of these two familiar tales and is all the more eager to read unfamiliar legends that are just as interesting as the known ones.

The legends included in this book explain the White Polish Imperial Eagle, the dislike of German influences and the tradition of the Trumpeter of Krakow (National Geographic also touched on this legend in their documentary of the Mongols and their Kahns). It was easy and enjoyable to read. I recommend this book to those who want to enjoy their heritage and pass these stories on to the next generation.

Old Polish Legends, as retold by F. C. Anstruther contains 11 legends that have survived a thousand years. The book is beautifully illustrated with wood-engravings by J. Sekalski.

The stories recount the meaning behind Poland's national symbol and flag, about several of its early rulers and first king, and the dragon of Krakow. The stories themselves are entertaining, yet are also very informative in learning about Poland. Additionally, many of the legends take place in actual places that one could visit today.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Polish culture. These tales explain what history books cannot. Which elements in the legends are true is left to the reader to question, yet undoubtedly, there is some truth to them.

The legends included in this book explain the White Polish Imperial Eagle, the dislike of German influences and the tradition of the Trumpeter of Krakow (National Geographic also touched on this legend in their documentary of the Mongols and their Kahns). It was easy and enjoyable to read. I recommend this book to those who want to enjoy their heritage and pass these stories on to the next generation.