On the Borderlands of History: “From Wielick to Wola Suchożebrska, or the Story of a Single Question”
Presented by: Dr. Maria Hanna Makowiecka
December 6, 2026 at 3 PM
From Wielick to Wola Suchożebrska, or the Story of a Single Question, tells the story of a family rooted in the eastern borderlands portrayed by Henryk Sienkiewicz—a family that experienced the loss of homes and places of belonging while showing courage, perseverance, and determination. The story reminds us that memories of the past shape successive generations. Its historical panorama stretches from idyllic life at a manor house in Wielick, Volhynia, to the purchase of a new manor in Wola Suchożebrska near Siedlce, just before the outbreak of World War II. Following the family through prewar Volhynia and the difficult years of occupation in Podlasie, we reach events woven into the history of postwar Poland and Warsaw, through the era of the Polish People’s Republic and into the present day.
In cooperation with Przytulisko Literacko-Artystyczne (the Literary and Artistic Haven)
Traditional holiday refreshments will be available to all attendees at 4:30 PM.
About the Lecturer
Dr. Maria Hanna Makowiecka has lived in the United States since 1988. She earned her doctorate in comparative literature at the CUNY Graduate Center. She is a professor of literature at Bergen Community College, the author of scholarly articles on literature and culture, and a speaker at numerous conferences and literary gatherings.