Four years ago, I went to Sułoszowa in the south of Poland to attend my grandmother’s funeral. As my father left home when he was 15 and never came back, I was born somewhere else and have never lived in this surprisingly big village in the Prądnik Valley. With its rocks, caves and castles, the valley is one of the most beautiful places in Poland. However, there is a sharp contrast between its breathtaking beauty and tragic events from the past.

On the day of the funeral I realized I was mature enough to learn about the history of the region and painful events my family went through. Since then, thanks to my father’s help, I have been visiting people who knew my grandmother. I have been recording stories, gathering documents, letters, and old photographs. Grandmother Zofia is the main character of my next novel.

At the Rede-und-Antwort-Tisch, I presented some of the collected material, including recorded interviews, and discussed the question, “Where Is the Truth about the Past,” with my guests.

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