The Last Train: The Rise and Fall of the Polish Second Republic and the Subsequent Demise of Poland's Gentry

The Last Train tells the story of a Polish family amidst the turmoil and tragedy of the first half of the 20th century. The antecedents of the Shifler family are explained and, rife with historically accurate detail, the narrative outlines the strength and character of family members down through the ages. The main focus of the book is the description of the two major forces that swept across the Polish landscape in the years before and during World War II—first the 1939 German annexation and occupation with its stultifying and numbing oppression and then the horrific 1945 counter-sweep by the vengeful Russian Red Army. This is a story that should live in the memories of all Poles, should bring to life certain events for historians of the 19th and 20th centuries, and should enter the hearts of contemporary readers.