This is a kind of political and historical autobiography in which Miłosz looks at his own life in the context of what was going on in Lithuania and Poland at the time. Although it is quite subjective here and there, and we get some engaging anecdotes from his school and student days, a lot of the time Miłosz himself seems to disappear from view as we get his detailed analysis of the complex historical situation of Wilno/Wilna/Vilnius and the surrounding area, and of Poland and Lithuania in general. Occasionally a little dry when it gets deep into political philosophy, but also quite fascinating, and of course also very disturbing when we move into his first-hand account of occupied Poland during World War II, when he had to survive by every means available, most of them illegal — since effectively nothing was legal.

Powerful stuff. ( )

Milosz ei noussut miksikään suosikkirunoilijakseni tällä kirjallaan. Osa runoista oli sellaisia joihin oli jotain samastumispintaakin, mutta osa tuntui jotenkin aikansa eläneiltä, tympeitä kaikuja jostain tunkkaiselta 60-70-luvuilta. Tällaisia tuntemuksia minulle heräsi. ( )