Marta Świderska-Pelinko: Where the Violin Cries

Mela, on whom war events left their mark since early childhood, attempts to flee from home where scarcity prevails and decides to marry the officer Jan. Three generations of her family deal with manifold struggles. In the background economic-political changes since the end of the World War II up to transformation of the socialist economy into a capitalist one become visible, which does not leave their personal lives untouched. The story happens at times when despite social ills work was plentiful and social units in businesses freely organized holidays for their workers and their requests were dealt with by a single phone call at the time when churches mushroomed and there was still an interest in man instead of gain. Later on, wild privatization came, unemployment or travelling abroad because of work increased. These were the things that disillusioned instigators had to deal with and which were not favourable towards people. Quarrels of the husband and wife standing on the opposite side of the fence are accompanied by a violin and its wailing as a threat has been haunting the couple since their wedding. Jan seems to be unable to prevent their marriage breakdown and conflicts which foreshadow the society after 1989 strongly divided by opinion. Indeed, history and more recent history can take any form but black and white.

Details
Pectus publishing house, Košice 2017
ISBN: 978-80-89435-26-5
hardcover, number of pages: 336
format: 120 x 190 mm
wholesale price with VAT: 10,20 €

They wrote about the book
Etela Farkašová: Strety minulosti s prítomnosťou