#szumska

Being set in Polish reality draws additional benefits from the novel. We brought up on indigenous literature, we brought up on publishing series published first in parts in newspapers widely read at the time and then published in limited editions, we brought up on books borrowed from each other will see these influences and benefits in the book.

When there is an introduction to history, when the author shows us the world we found after opening the first page (the younger ones would now call it a universe), when characters and circumstances emerge, it's Chmielewska. I know, bold comparison. Maybe not Chmielewska from "Lesia", maybe not Chmielewska from "Klin" or "We're all suspects", but Chmielewska from "The Dead Man's Whole Sentence", yes. Perhaps not so polished yet, not so mature in her workshop, but equally pictorial and equally skilful with words, time and image.

But when it comes to action. Well, we already have Grochola. Almost as efficient, just as methodical and just as dynamic. The convention of the story requires it, and it is fulfilled. Not quite with a flourish yet, not yet with an idea, but it is a sensational read, absorbing subsequent pages and not being able to break away before explaining the next threads.

This is another advantage of Szumska. Chronology. A deliberate, well-thought-out and necessary procedure of presenting the story in an intertwined chronology reveals the dramatic and tragic nature of the situation and, more importantly, the characters. The author introduces us to this world by telling fragments of history from different periods of its duration and from different points of reference. This makes the whole more complementary and coherent. Maybe some threads were not finished, maybe the story was missing, but it can also be a publishing ploy that reveals to us that there will be a second part. Or maybe that's what publishing rights are like these days. After all, you can't have everything.

The last cool trick, if you can call it that, is skillful acceleration of the pace. As the action and story begin to fall into place, the pace of explaining the threads increases, and with it - a wonderful shortening of chapters, sentences and summaries. As you read, you literally speed up with the story, you feel it, you feel that pace, that pace that also makes you not want to stop, you don't want to stop, you want to know, experience, explain and know. The initial, descriptive, pictorial introduction to the story is replaced by action. "Chmielewska" turns into "Grochola" and the whole thing is fastened with a bright buckle by Szumska.