Marcin Wicha - Things I Didn't Throw Out (2nd Hand Softback)
ISBN / GTIN-13 : 9781914198021
Synopsis
Winner of The English Pen Award.
Translated by Marta Dziurosz.
A wry and unsentimental account of the attempt to understand a parent as an independent person with their own history.
Lamps, penknives, paperbacks, mechanical pencils, inflatable headrests. Marcin Wicha’s mother Joanna was a collector of everyday objects. When she dies and leaves her apartment intact, Wicha is left to sort through her things. Through them, he begins to construct an image of Joanna as a Jewish woman, a mother, and a citizen.
As Poland emerged from the Second World War into the material meanness of the Communist regime, shortages of every kind shaped its people in deep and profound ways. What they chose to buy, keep - and, arguably, hoard - tells the story of contemporary Poland.
Joanna’s Jewishness, her devotion to work, her formidable temperament, her weakness for consumer goods, all accumulate into an unforgettable portrait of a woman and, ultimately, her country.
Details
- Format : Standard 2nd Hand Softback with French Fold Sleeves
- Condition : As New
- Category : Non-Fiction : Autobiography & Biography
- Published : 2021 (Daunt Books Originals)
- ISBN : 9781914198021
- SKU : B003049
- PPC : SP300gm
- RRP : £9.99
- Quantity Available : 1 only.
External Reviews
'Vivid and sharply written . . . the book shows how objects are often where memories reside. It also expresses . . . the impossible human effort to end up with an adequate inventory of what was lost.' - Hisham Matar.
'Wicha is Poland’s answer to David Sedaris, devastatingly funny about the minutiae of family life and the foibles of the elders.' - Irish Times.
'I loved it; so funny, clever and moving. So impressively unsentimental. And, of course, I adored all the bits about books and the precise, unflinching portrait of Joanna.' - Cathy Rentzenbrink.
The Author
Marcin Wicha was born in Warsaw in 1972. A graphic designer and writer, he is one of Poland’s most successful contemporary writers and the author of a number of bestselling children’s books, as well the winner of Poland biggest literary prizes for his adult writing. In 2017 he published Rzeczy, których nie wyrzuciłem (Things I Didn’t Throw Out), which became a bestseller and won the Polityka Passport award and the prestigious Nike Literary Award.
Delivery & Postage
All books & other items are held in stock and ready for immediate dispatch.
Free local delivery is offered for parts of the Glasgow North Area within 1-2 days (postcode dependant & automatically offered at checkout).
Free UK Delivery on all orders over £10.
Standard UK Delivery is only £1 on orders under £10.
UK Postal delivery is reliably within 2-5 working days and UK Courier delivery slightly faster, within 2-3 working days. International delivery times obviously vary.
Guarantee & Refunds
We offer a Full 14 Day Money Back 'No Questions Asked' Guarantee on all our products. This 14 Day period begins on the day your item is delivered to you.
If, for whatever reason, you're not happy with your purchase just let us know by email and return the books or other items. We'll then refund your money within a day or so of receiving the returned items. Please note though, this refund will not cover the cost of your return postage, only the initial cost of your order and any delivery fee added.
Please don't worry about about the condition of any 2nd Hand Books or other items you purchase, they'll be exactly as described in the details section. (Number of books returned since 2018 - still none).
Availability : In Stock