ABSTRACT

The redrawing of the Polish and German borders following the Second World War led to far-reaching restructuring of social life in the Oder region following in its wake. This process may be compared to a revolution: the social structure up to that time, as well as ties with family and neighbours, were destroyed. An almost total exchange of population took place. Another tool used in spreading a positive version of the myth of the ‘Polish Wild West’ was literary fiction. As the Communist authorities realised the roles of writers in creating myths, they also solicited their interest in the subject of the ‘Recovered Territories’. With time, politics begins to play an ever-greater role in the lives of the characters. The settlers join political parties –– those who support the Peasants’ Party become the object of discrimination following its loss in the elections.