The Black Madonna of Derby: Book Review

The Black Madonna of Derby
My Rating: 4
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: eARC*
Publication Date: April 6, 2020
Author: Joanna Czechowska

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~Book Blurb~

A feel-good story of new beginnings set in a gorgeous country village, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson.

During and after the Second World War, 200,000 Poles were given leave to remain in the UK as thanks for their help during the conflict – this book is a fictional account of just one of those families. Set during the 1960s and 1970s, The Black Madonna of Derby traces the story of the Baran family living in a provincial town in England. Their seemingly ordinary existence hides secrets of past betrayal, madness, and tragedy.

The story focuses on three generations: the elderly grandmother whose proud Polish patriotism hides dark events from the past that affect the present, the mother whose tries to meld her past life in war-torn Poland and Germany with her new life in England and the granddaughter who lives a double life culturally and linguistically – Polish at home and English outside.

The swinging sixties in London is vividly recreated, as is the hardship of life under communism in the Poland of that time. This book is unique in that there are no other novels dealing with the story of second generation Poles in the UK. It is a story that deserves to be told, a story of a group of people who have had little attention in the literature. Listen to what they have to say.

~My Thoughts~

I must admit right at the beginning that I know very little about what happened to the Polish community after World War II. I had no idea there were so many Polish immigrants granted citizenship in the UK.

I know very little about the English countryside of Derby. Having read tons of English books, I was actually surprised that I didn’t know more about the setting.

Luckily, for me, The Black Madonna of Derby does an amazing job of filling in any knowledge gaps while also telling a compelling story about women from three generations of the same family.

In The Black Madonna of Derby, the past plays out in the present with amazing consequences. It a vivid reminder that you can never run away from your past completely, as it always stays with you even decades into the future. The present is constantly being influenced by the past, as is so amazingly represented by four different women, who should have had four different pasts, but ended up in remarkably similar circumstances.

Each trying to figure out their lives after major changes. Trying to cope with their own expectations and the disappointments of their present circumstances. Not realizing how much this could bring them together.

The Black Madonna of Derby is a melodic book composed almost like a song. Stick with me for a minute. Think of the plot as the melody. Most songs consist of so much more than the melody, and in fact, wouldn’t be nearly as amazing without all of their parts. Almost all of the best parts of The Black Madonna of Derby happen between the plot points.

Joanna Czechowska spends so much time and focus on the in between. The different settings that span miles and miles. Building the lives of the women that are so different but so similiar. And describing the past so that it whispers throughout the story like harmonies. Always there affecting the whole sound.

The narration was stellar as well. There were so many different accents, but they were all performed flawlessly while the audio was perfect.

These types of books, steeped in history but brimming with hope for the future, is why I love reading historical fiction. You will no regret reading this remarkable book. I loved it.

~Giveaway~

~About the Author~

The daughter of a Polish father and English mother, Joanna Czechowska was born in Derby and studied history at University College London. She now works as a journalist. The Black Madonna of Derby, published in Polish under the title Goodbye Polsko, is her first novel.

*Special thanks to Joanna Czechowska, Skymill Press, and Rachel’s Random Resources providing a copy of The Black Madonna of Derby in exchange for an honest review.