King of the Fields

In this provocative novel, a Nobel laureate offers a gritty and unconventional take on Poland’s primitive history, translated from Yiddish. The story follows the transformation of Poland from a hunter-gatherer society to an agricultural land, where the new rulers, who named themselves Poles after the word for “field,” engage in a brutal and chaotic existence. The narrative is filled with raw and unsettling scenes of violence, sexual perversion, and the mundane aspects of life. Women are depicted in stark contrasts, sometimes as submissive figures and other times as powerful warriors. The novel’s time frame is intentionally disjointed, featuring characters from different eras, including a Jewish cobbler from Babylon and a Christian bishop, who interact with prehistoric Poles. Amidst this chaos, Cybula, a king of the fields, indulges in philosophical musings about the universe and human nature, all while navigating his complex personal relationships. Why You Should Read? Offers a unique and raw perspective on early Polish history, blending historical fiction with anthropological elements. Features complex and paradoxical portrayals of women, challenging traditional gender roles. Engages readers with its disjointed time frame and unexpected character interactions. Provokes thought with its exploration of philosophical themes amidst a backdrop of chaos and brutality.