Martin Stepek tells stories from his latest book of his Polish father’s astonishing and tragic early life, including his time in a Soviet labour camp and the death by starvation of the author’s grandmother. 

Martin Stepek’s critically acclaimed book on the early life of his father, Jan Stepek, brings today’s turbulence in Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Israel and Palestine into a perspective of eighty years ago. We observe through a single family; Poland under the imperial forces of Russian, Germany and Austria before WWI, followed by a reborn Poland and the struggle to renew and defend it during the inter-war period, and finally the cataclysmic effect of the Nazi and Soviet invasions of Poland. 

Martin will read from his book and explore the impact of war and tragedy on his father, and on his own upbringing, looking at the concept of epigenetics (whereby an individual’s trauma can be passed down to their children and subsequent generations). A lively discussion will follow. 

This event is part of a touring series across Lanarkshire. Please scroll down to see further venues and dates.