A Long Postponed Visit

The main character of the novel ‘Jerry,’ was forced to leave his native country (Poland) during the 1967/69 political unrest in the country, after being harassed by the secret police & subjected to anti-Semitism. Years later, after the fall of the regime, as a biochemist he returned to Poland for conference and recounts the events of his life prior to his exile, and was confronted with the realities of the “fresh” post- communism in the country. The main emotional thread of the novel is a passionate affair Jerry have had with Catherine, an actress whom he had to abandon when he fled the country, and who meanwhile became artistically a celebrity. Tragically, she dies before they had a chance for reconciliation. The novel also recalls all other events of Jerry’s life, as his happy marriage to Vera and her tragic death, his children and other relationships and his friends. The novel artfully touches upon socio–political and historical analysis and related facts, and is weaving them into an intriguing story of one man’s tumultuous life.