Keynote
Devoted wives, manipulators and
the sources of scandals – the bitter-sweet
lives of the intriguing first ladies of
pre‑war Poland, or history writ large, from
the perspective of women.

Selling Points
 A tale of the great world, full
of a glamour and splendour that has
passed never to return.
 The history of Poland told from
a completely different perspective.
 A book about important women who
were often sidelined.
 A panorama of the cultural and political
life of the 1920s and 30s in Poland and
Europe.
 The lives of the wives of Polish
presidents were full of intrigue and
dramatic turnabouts, so the book reads
like a thriller.
 The author is an extremely popular
writer, and his books regularly feature
in bestseller lists.
 An unputdownable history book, written
with verve and humour.
Description
Behind the success of every man stands
an outstanding woman – that can
be seen best in the world of high-stakes
politics. Kamil Janicki, an outstanding
historian, tells the story of the wives

of Poland’s pre-war presidents. Maria
Piłsudska, Michalina Mościcka and Maria
Wojciechowska – none of the Polish first
ladies of the Second Polish Republic had
an easy life. In spite of the notorious
banquets, balls and a life of glamour,
high‑stakes politics, the awareness
of being in the public eye, and on top
of that human jealousy dominated their
everyday lives. Did these women – thrown
into the world of male conflicts – manage
to find a place for authentic passion
and deep feelings? What role did they
play in history writ large? And what can
we learn from them today?

Target Market
Fans of history books.
Readers interested in biographical
literature.