The historical novel is part fact and part fiction. Michener explains the history and problems of Poland in terms of these three families, which follows the pattern used in his other historical novels. The history of Poland is told in terms of the history of those three families as they appear in all parts of the books. The Buks represent the peasantry the Lubonskis represent the nobility and the Bukowskis represent the gentry. Michener tells the story of Poland in terms of three families. This is why Poland was always easy prey for invaders. There was never an army that was able to defend the country until King Jan Sibelski. The magnates viewed the situation in terms of what was good for them was good for all of Poland. Their king was hired from other countries because the magnates feared that a strong king with an inherited lineage would threaten their own autonomy. Poland had no national borders and no strong central government. At one point Poland was completely partitioned and absorbed by the Germans, Russians and Austrians. The nation has often faced invaders - the Tartars, Turks, Swedes, Germans and Russians. The story of Poland is the story of an ethnic people struggling to attain freedom and independence throughout their history. The first and last chapters of the book are set in 1981 with the history of the nation in between. Thus begins the exciting story of Poland, which covers the history of Poland from the thirteenth century to 1981.

It is the location of the famous Bukowski palace where many Party dignitaries vacationed or met for meetings. The Communist government agreed to hold discussions with the protesters in Bukowo.

It is the home of Janko Buk who is the leader of an agricultural policy protest movement. The book opens in the fall of 1981, in the small village of Bukowo.

Poland michener