Overview

A tender and passionate tale of first love between two young men who ultimately find themselves on opposing sides of the political divide is set in early 1980s Poland against the violent fall of communism. This literary debut is stunningly poetic and heartbreaking for fans of Andre Aciman, Garth Greenwell, and Alan Hollinghurst. Ludwik, a university student, is captivated by but apprehensive of Janusz when they first meet at a summer agricultural camp. But a fortuitous encounter by the river quickly develops into a passionate, thrilling, and all-consuming relationship. The two spend a surreal few weeks camping in the wilderness after completing their camp chores, becoming close over an unauthorized copy of James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room. Ludwik and Janusz develop a strong love while living in a stunning natural environment free of society's restrictions. But the passion they share is completely inconceivable in their oppressive communist and Catholic culture. As soon as they get back to Warsaw, the flamboyant Janusz advances swiftly through the party's political ranks and is rewarded with a highly sought-after job in the ministry. Unable to ignore the sharp economic imbalance in their immediate surroundings or the rising cost of food, Ludwik is tempted to irrational actions of protest. As both men fight to survive in a dictatorship that is on the verge of collapsing, their secret love and personal and political disagreements slowly start to rip them apart.

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9781801898577

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