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The Beautiful Truth
Set in Poland in the present and during the Second World War, The Beautiful Truth is an unforgettable novel of families, heroism and of the possibilities of finding late love from the author of the acclaimed Hotel Juliet. For readers of Helen Dunmore, Sadie Jones and Rose Tremain.
'A thrillingly observant writer and crafter of highly sensual prose' Daily Mail
Catherine never knew her father. A Polish exile, he disappeared when she was a small child, leaving her only a pair of binoculars and a lifelong love of the stars. Now in her forties, she leads a settled academic life in Cambridge - until one day she receives a letter with a Polish postmark from an American film-maker who is in Krakow to research the wartime experiences of his aunt. What Konrad has uncovered will send Catherine on a voyage of discovery not only into Poland's past, but into her own history. And what she uncovers there will change her life in ways she could not possibly have imagined.
Moving between present-day Krakow and wartime Poland, The Beautiful Truth tells a passionate and moving story of the way ordinary lives are swept up in extraordinary events. Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, it will not be easily forgotten.
'A thrillingly observant writer and crafter of highly sensual prose' Daily Mail
Catherine never knew her father. A Polish exile, he disappeared when she was a small child, leaving her only a pair of binoculars and a lifelong love of the stars. Now in her forties, she leads a settled academic life in Cambridge - until one day she receives a letter with a Polish postmark from an American film-maker who is in Krakow to research the wartime experiences of his aunt. What Konrad has uncovered will send Catherine on a voyage of discovery not only into Poland's past, but into her own history. And what she uncovers there will change her life in ways she could not possibly have imagined.
Moving between present-day Krakow and wartime Poland, The Beautiful Truth tells a passionate and moving story of the way ordinary lives are swept up in extraordinary events. Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, it will not be easily forgotten.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
386 pages, ARC
First published May 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 7, 2013
Something about this story was captivating, almost despite itself. The imagery was beautiful, and the structure sound, the characters believable, the story plausible.
The novel’s chapters alternate between present day Krakow and the war torn Nazi-occupied Poland of the 1940s.
Catherine has come to Poland to piece together her late father’s jagged past, and comes to understand what it was he spent his life avoiding.
Through the eyes and experiences of the very young Krystyna, who was her father’s best friend from childhood, we learn about the brave Polish resistance and uprising during the war.
A Beautiful Truth is a complete and enlightening story. It is well worth reading for an understanding of such a big piece of history, and how history itself travels through the ages, impacting the generations to come, no matter how much either those who lived through the tragedy of war, nor how much those who came later try and hide, deny or run from it.
After all, it is the truth that sets us free.
The novel’s chapters alternate between present day Krakow and the war torn Nazi-occupied Poland of the 1940s.
Catherine has come to Poland to piece together her late father’s jagged past, and comes to understand what it was he spent his life avoiding.
Through the eyes and experiences of the very young Krystyna, who was her father’s best friend from childhood, we learn about the brave Polish resistance and uprising during the war.
A Beautiful Truth is a complete and enlightening story. It is well worth reading for an understanding of such a big piece of history, and how history itself travels through the ages, impacting the generations to come, no matter how much either those who lived through the tragedy of war, nor how much those who came later try and hide, deny or run from it.
After all, it is the truth that sets us free.
May 13, 2015
I did like this, but I can't keep reading it because I'm finding it frustrating. I cannot see the point in the parallel stories and I wish I could just read the one or the other instead of being torn away every other chapter. Maybe I'll try this again later.
The writing is good, which is the frustrating part. If it wasn't I wouldn't be so conflicted about continuing.
sigh.
The writing is good, which is the frustrating part. If it wasn't I wouldn't be so conflicted about continuing.
sigh.
October 30, 2018
Whenever I travel to some far off place, I have developed this habit of buying a book there to add to my library. It's an unusual souvenir and also something I know I will go back to in the future and not only will I get to enjoy the book again but it will also remind me of the trip I took. So while in Krakow I paid a visit to the Massolit bookstore. Its a truly amazing place to go, and should you ever find your self near them you should defiantly pay them a visit, plus they have a great cafe. Anyway while combing the stacks of books I came across The Beautiful Truth. In part I was drawn to it because it was set in the very city I was in, but also the story sounded like the sort of one you could escape into and get lost for a few hours.
With the book split into two timelines, I got to become acquainted with two amazing women. The author takes her time and allows the reader to get to know them in a manner that feels organic. It is an interesting thing to see how each of them comes to not only find themselves but also within each of their time periods find their place. Catherine seems to be a bit adrift as we start to follow her path, but with the help of a complete stranger, she sees that her life can be so much more. When we move to the past, it's through Krystyna eyes that we bare witness to a coming of age for a young girl as her country is torn apart. She learns what it means to have to grow up fast and also her place in the fight against the Nazis and freedom. These two women's stories create a beautiful balance throughout the story. I think that I learned something from both of them and the way in which the author described them meant they came off the page and I was left feeling that I had met two real people despite them being fiction.
The story flows with such an amazing style it felt like it moved with every breath I took. With each of the timelines, I was pulled into there respective worlds feeling fleshed out and full. The way in which she described Poland and Krakow allows the reader to form a great mental image in your head. For me, this became especially true having walked some of the same streets and going to the places she describes. The only way I can really describe it is that it gives you a warm feeling of these places. I realize its a strange way to put it but its the word that first comes to mind. I am not usually one for romantic plots but this author and her story have won me over. It is a story I think will stay with me for a long time after. But while I have used many uplifting words in telling you of this book it is not to say that it doesn't deal with the dark side of Poland's past. It would be hard not to especially when dealing with Krystyna's side of the plot. I think she did this in a manner that was not disrespectful to the topic at hand and gave a very personal look into the horrific events that took place. It is within these blending of joy and horror, past and present that the author shines for me.
Overall Seaward has created a truly beautiful book that enlightens as much as it captivates the reader. I got to spend time with two women that are bold and brave for different reasons all the while showing a very human frailty. For me, she has shown an amazing talent for the written word and I look forward to seeing what she has to come.
With the book split into two timelines, I got to become acquainted with two amazing women. The author takes her time and allows the reader to get to know them in a manner that feels organic. It is an interesting thing to see how each of them comes to not only find themselves but also within each of their time periods find their place. Catherine seems to be a bit adrift as we start to follow her path, but with the help of a complete stranger, she sees that her life can be so much more. When we move to the past, it's through Krystyna eyes that we bare witness to a coming of age for a young girl as her country is torn apart. She learns what it means to have to grow up fast and also her place in the fight against the Nazis and freedom. These two women's stories create a beautiful balance throughout the story. I think that I learned something from both of them and the way in which the author described them meant they came off the page and I was left feeling that I had met two real people despite them being fiction.
The story flows with such an amazing style it felt like it moved with every breath I took. With each of the timelines, I was pulled into there respective worlds feeling fleshed out and full. The way in which she described Poland and Krakow allows the reader to form a great mental image in your head. For me, this became especially true having walked some of the same streets and going to the places she describes. The only way I can really describe it is that it gives you a warm feeling of these places. I realize its a strange way to put it but its the word that first comes to mind. I am not usually one for romantic plots but this author and her story have won me over. It is a story I think will stay with me for a long time after. But while I have used many uplifting words in telling you of this book it is not to say that it doesn't deal with the dark side of Poland's past. It would be hard not to especially when dealing with Krystyna's side of the plot. I think she did this in a manner that was not disrespectful to the topic at hand and gave a very personal look into the horrific events that took place. It is within these blending of joy and horror, past and present that the author shines for me.
Overall Seaward has created a truly beautiful book that enlightens as much as it captivates the reader. I got to spend time with two women that are bold and brave for different reasons all the while showing a very human frailty. For me, she has shown an amazing talent for the written word and I look forward to seeing what she has to come.
July 7, 2018
It took me a while into getting into this story, but once I did I was hooked. There are 2 parallel stories of 2 young women happening. the chapters clearly park which story is which. I found that useful. The first story is about a young Polish woman and how she survived the II WW and her contribution to the war time. It is of a brave woman and I truly enjoyed the female heroine. The 2nd story is set now and tells us of Catherine how her search for love. A good read
February 18, 2022
Decently written novel, which moves between Poland in the present day and the war period, 1939-1945. The plot lines don't solidify until past the half way point (perhaps a good edit required), and then things happen almost too quickly to be believed. However, it's clear a fair amount of historical research went into Seaward's book, and I certainly learned a great deal about the Polish underground during and subsequent to World War II.
October 24, 2020
An annoying read that switches between an attempt at describing the survival of a horse-mad late-teen woman through the early occupation of Poland during WW2, and a contemporary mid-life-crisis of a Cambridge astronomer on sabbatical from her academic life.
July 9, 2018
Chosen as a book club read. Just from the blurb I knew it was a book I would enjoy. Mixture of present day and the 1940's. A good I insight into life for the polish families during the war.
August 2, 2021
It did not do it for me. The two stories never really linked together. It was not the story I was expecting but did enjoy parts of the modern day love story.
June 1, 2020
Set in the stark violence of the second world war and Polish resistance. A beautiful duel timeline book. Occasional rich beautiful moments alongside the horrific violence.
December 30, 2012
Set in Poland, essentially The Beautiful Truth is two books in one. Alternating chapter by chapter, on the one hand we have the second world war story of Janek and Krystyna, whilst, on the other, there is the modern day story of Catherine and Konrad, the two stories connecting in so far as film maker Konrad is conducting research into the wartime exploits of his aunt (Krystyna) whose girlhood friend was no less than Catherine's father, Janek.
A bit of a hit and miss read for me I'm afraid. Beginning with a very violent and literally torture filled opening chapter that almost saw me giving up reading the novel there and then, Krystyna's story turned out to be an enthralling and very moving read whilst the chapters regarding Catherine and Konrad, for the most part, proved less than memorable.
On the whole poignant and beautifully written, I would, however, have enjoyed the book just as much (perhaps more so) if it had been shorter and concentrated solely on Krystyna's story.
DISCLAIMER: Read and reviewed on behalf of NEWBOOKS magazine I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
A bit of a hit and miss read for me I'm afraid. Beginning with a very violent and literally torture filled opening chapter that almost saw me giving up reading the novel there and then, Krystyna's story turned out to be an enthralling and very moving read whilst the chapters regarding Catherine and Konrad, for the most part, proved less than memorable.
On the whole poignant and beautifully written, I would, however, have enjoyed the book just as much (perhaps more so) if it had been shorter and concentrated solely on Krystyna's story.
DISCLAIMER: Read and reviewed on behalf of NEWBOOKS magazine I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
July 15, 2013
The novel begins in 1949 in Mokotow PrisonWarsaw where Janek is being tortured to make him confess and betray the resistance movement. Then is moves to Krakow in the present where Catherine has come to learn about her father, Janek, who left her and her mother when she was a child. He had given her a pair of binoculars to study the stars. Konrad a Polish-American conteacted her when her father died. He is a film producer and has written a script about his aunt Krystyna and her involvement with the Resistance during WW2.
Then we are returned to Easter Poland in March 1939 when the stories of Krystyna and Janeck begins, bound together by their love of horses, but driven apart by war.
The novel alternates between their lives and the developing relationship between Catherine and Konrad.
The description of landscapes and of the movement of horses are well written, but I found the jumps backwards and forwards a little hard to follow at times.
Then we are returned to Easter Poland in March 1939 when the stories of Krystyna and Janeck begins, bound together by their love of horses, but driven apart by war.
The novel alternates between their lives and the developing relationship between Catherine and Konrad.
The description of landscapes and of the movement of horses are well written, but I found the jumps backwards and forwards a little hard to follow at times.
July 12, 2012
A rather ordinary book dealing with an extraordinary chapter in European history. This novel alternates between chapters set in World War Two Poland and current day Krakow. The chapters in the past focus on the doomed, courageous resistance movement as they fought the Germans and the Russians, betrayed by the Western Allies and Stalin. This alone could have made for an immensely interesting novel. Instead, Belinda Seaward tries to create contemporary relevance by revealing this story as it is discovered by the relatives of the resistance fighters. But while the characters in the past are struggling with starvation, assassination and bombing, the two in the present battle with such mundane issues as boredom, crass tourists and marital unfaithfulness. I would though recommend this book for anyone interested in World War Two or Polish history.
February 14, 2016
I had no idea quite how awful the war in Poland was for the Polish people and the atrocities committed by both Russian and German armies. I love a book that educates and I come away with a wider, deeper view of the world than I had before. This definitely does this. I'd also love to visit Krakow now!
The book is also two love stories intertwined: one from the war and one from this century - how appropriate to finish on Valentine's Day. The abusive relationship that one of the characters has experienced totally rang true. The relationship between the two lovers in modern Poland less so for me.
A fabulous book. Highly recommended!
The book is also two love stories intertwined: one from the war and one from this century - how appropriate to finish on Valentine's Day. The abusive relationship that one of the characters has experienced totally rang true. The relationship between the two lovers in modern Poland less so for me.
A fabulous book. Highly recommended!
October 6, 2015
Slow start but great once it got going. One star lost for the way it just lurched into things - the modern relationships in this book were rushed and didn't make much sense. Couldn't make head nor tail of Dominic, his character and relationship just didn't work for me. And how seamlessly Catherine and Konrad slip together after a day or two. The author was better at writing about the past than the present, really enjoyed the chapters about war time Poland.
December 24, 2015
A tale of two generations told in parallel as alternating chapters. Set in Poland, the one story is during World War II while the second takes place in modern day. I really enjoyed reading this book and feel like Poland is somewhere I'd like to visit some day. Not too sure about the ending: I felt it didn't have the strong construction/thought that the rest of the book had.
April 15, 2013
The author can can hang a sentence together nicely but overall the interweaving of different periods didn't work that well. With 20 pages to go it looked like it might stretch into another book, then suddenly everything is hurriedly tied up in a few paragraphs.
June 13, 2013
Sigh. I'm definitely going to get this book out again when I have more time in the summer. I loved the multiple perspective and the jump between different times. Really well written.
April 2, 2014
It took me a couple of chapters to warm to this book, but in the end the beautiful writing won me over.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews