My short documentary on Leopold Tyrmand (1920-1985), a great Polish-American writer, anti-communist dissident, wit, and champion of liberty.

As many of you know, the Catholic Church will celebrate World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, this year. I will be covering the event for the American Catholic media, specifically for the Catholic World Report and National Catholic Register. I have written a series of posts in advance of World Youth Day for the Catholic World Report. They include articles about the 1,050 history of Christianity in Poland and the current state of the Church there; a post on nine unsung Catholic heroes from Poland;  a list of suggested reading and viewing to learn more about the host country of this year’s WYD; and an article about stateside World Youth Day events for American pilgrims who will be unable to travel to Krakow. Enjoy.

As part of its Community Read program, the Taylor Library recently promoted the classic memoir The Pianist by Władysław Szpilman. I recently gave a presentation on the life, legacy and music of Szpilman, as well as on the history of Poland and of Polish Jewry.