Born and educated in Australia, Michael Moran spent his twenties wandering the islands of Polynesia and Melanesia. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and author of the Thomas Cook Travel Book Prize shortlisted Beyond the Coral Sea and A Country in the Moon: Travels in Search of the Heart of Poland. He lives in Warsaw.

In this uproarious memoir and meticulously researched cultural journey, writer Michael Moran keeps company with a gallery of fantastic characters. In chronicling the resurrection of the nation from war and the Holocaust, he paints a portrait of the unknown Poland, one of monumental castles, primeval forests and, of course, the Poles themselves. This captivating journey into the heart of a country is a timely and brilliant celebration of a valiant and richly cultured people.