Visit Warsaw, Wrocław, Wycombe even, and you’ll find countless examples of literary mastery to aid your enjoyment of the city. Not so in Łódź, where a trip to tourist information will reveal just a handful of books written in your chosen tongue. So, it’s a good job that what there is, is actually very good. One author in particular has nailed the market, and that’s journalist Joanna Podolska, a local-based hack with a clear passion for the city. There’s two books of note here. First up, there’s ‘Łódź – The Golden Book’, a glossy A-4 size effort that retails for approximately 50zł. Presented inside are all the key sights, accompanied by a through commentary that will plug all the gaps in your knowledge. The photography here is superb as well, with several close-up shots of Piotrkowska facades, as well as old archive material such as postcards of pre-war Jewish Łódź. It’s Jewish history that particularly interests Podolska, and that’s the subject of her second book, ‘Traces of the Litzmannstadt-Getto’. As the title suggests, this diary sized book takes readers on a step-by-step tour of the Jewish Ghetto, with detailed commentaries complimented by black and white photographs snapped by Ghetto chroniclers. Put simply this is an absolute must-have and the finest work you’ll find on this chapter in the history of Łódź. Best of all, it’s yours for 30zł. By Podolska’s own admission it’s still very much a work in progress, so keep your eyes peeled for re-prints and updates.You can find the books at EMPiK at ul. Piotrkowska 81 or in Tourist Info outlets.
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