Ioann Polianskii

Lemkovyna: a History of the Lemko Region of the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe Ioann Polianskii

Lemkovyna: A History of the Lemko Region of the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe is both a celebration of the mountain area the author calls a "foretaste of paradise," and a lament over its suffering, especially the ethnic cleansing of its inhabitants after WW II. Along the way, Polianskii traces the social, political, and religious history of Lemkos and neighboring Carpatho-Rusyns, chronicling early Slavic tribes and the introduction of Christianity, how villagers earned their living and worked against long odds to improve their circumstances, including emigration to America, and how the Lemko world in the Carpathians was shattered by forced resettlements after the Second World War, including the infamous Operation "Vistula".

Polianskii's passion for his native region brings his subjects to life, from indentured servants in medieval manors to outlaws raiding noblemen's carriages. His eye for detail and access to source material are evident in the detailed histories of Lemko towns such as Sanok, Gorlice, Krynica, Nowy Sacz, and many more.

Appearing for the first time in English and including over one hundred photographs, along with Polianskii's own autobiography and appendices by Lemko scholars Paul Best, Walter Maksimovich, Mykhailo Almashii, Stanislaw Stepien, and Bogdan Horbal, this book is recommended not only for those with roots in the region, but for anyone looking for a unique perspective on a nearly forgotten corner of Central Europe.