Alex Storozynski is president and executive director of the Kosciuszko Foundation. Also a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, he was an editorial board member at the New York "Daily News"," " the founding editor of "amNew York"," " and a former city editor and contributing editor to the "The New York Sun." He lives in West Orange, New Jersey."
Despite his heroic efforts, Kosciuszko's fatherland had to wait a
century after his death before regaining independence from Russia.
The world would have to wait even longer for an accessible, soundly
researched, English-language biography. With "The Peasant Prince,"
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Alex Storozynski has filled the
void. And what a tale he has to tell. A melodramatic, foiled
elopement deprived the young Kosciuszko of the love of his life and
led him to cross the Atlantic and sign up with George Washington's
ragtag rebel army. The Polish emigre engineered the network of
fortifications around West Point that Benedict Arnold
unsuccessfully tried to betray to the British and that he lped keep
the main British army bottled up in New York City. Kosciuszko also
played a key role in the wilderness campaigns that ended in the
crucial American victory at Saratoga. And he made a triumphal
return to his native Poland in time to lead a doomed but heroic
national struggle against Russia and overwhelming odds. All this
and a supporting cast that amounts to a Who's Who of 18th-century
American and European history. In America, those who knew
Kosciuszko included Benjamin Franklin (who helped recruit him);
George Washington (who had trouble getting Kosciuszko's name right
but hailed him as a military "engineer of eminence"); Thomas
Jefferson (who called him "as pure a son of liberty as I have ever
known"); and Thomas Paine (who, like Kosciuszko, was granted
honorary French citizenship by the revolutionary regime but spoke
out against its brutal excesses). In Europe, Kosciuszko's
acquaintances included Napoleon Bonaparte (who tried--and
failed--to use him as a pawn in European power politics) and
Catherine the Great (who, after ruthlessly suppressing the Polish
insurrection, kept Kosciuszko a political prisoner in Russia until
her death in 1796). "Wall Street Journal" Alex Storozynski has just
published "The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of
Revolution," a sweeping, colorful, and absorbing biography that
should restore Kosciuszko to his proper place in history. President
of the Kosciuszko Foundation, which promotes Polish-American
educational exchanges, Storozynski is also a Pulitzer Prize winning
journalist who knows how to tell a good story. In his account,
Kosciuszko--as soldier in America and then a revolutionary in his
homeland-- exemplified some of the best ideals of his era. He also
experienced some of its worst betrayals and disappointments. ...
Emancipation was 'a controversial idea ahead of his time, '
Storozynski writes--just, as this stirring biography makes clear,
like the man himself. "Newsweek.com" In "The Peasant Prince" Alex
Storozynski fills a gap in our picture of the American Revolution,
and relates it to the worldwide struggle for freedom. Thaddeus
Kosciuszko was a noble soul with few options, a friend of liberty
in an age of aggression and tyranny. Storozynski shows how he
navigated a life of romance and realpolitik, keeping his principles
intact. "Richard Brookhiser, senior editor of the National Review,
and author of What Would the Founders Do? Our Questions, Their
Answers" Prize-winning journalist Storozynski pulls military
strategist and engineer Thaddeus Kosciuszko (1746 1817) back from
the brink of obscurity by including almost every documented detail
to create the first comprehensive look at a man who once famously
symbolized rebellion. His were the plans sold to the British by
Benedict Arnold. And Kosciuszko's years of devotion to the American
cause framed his efforts to transform Poland into a self-governing
republic freed from the oversight of Russia's interests. He
antagonized Catherine the Great and, later, Napoleon. Kosciuszko
rallied the first Jewish military force since biblical times to
fight for Polish independence, and consistently supported equality
and education for peasants, Jews, Muslim Tatars and American
slaves--which earned him the devotion of the masses and lectures by
the upper classes. Readers of military and American history should
take note: the minute details will enthrall devotees. Casual
readers will benefit from Storozynski's expert crafting of a
readable and fact-filled story that pulls readers into the
immediacy of the revolutionary era's partisan and financial
troubles. "Publishers Weekly" "The Peasant Prince" is an objective
history that is needed in today's America and Poland. The hero of
Alex's book is one of the fathers of modern democracy in the same
mold as Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Lincoln. "Adam Michnik,
Solidarnosc activist and editor in chief of Gazeta Wyborcza" In a
meticulously researched work, Storozynski greatly enhances our
understanding of Kosciuszko's personality and motivations by
investigating the Pole's relationship and feelings toward Africans,
Jews, and peasants. His contribution advances our knowledge of this
complex character whom Jefferson considered the purest son of
liberty' he ever knew. "James Pula, Purdue University" Tapping new
sources in archives in Poland and Switzerland, Alex Storozynski
provides a fresh perspective on Thaddeus Kosciuszko, the Polish
engineer most responsible for the construction of Fortress West
Point, General Washington's key of America.' "Colonel James M.
Johnson, U.S. Army (Ret.), military historian of the Hudson River
Valley National Heritage Area, and former chief of Military
History, U.S. Military Academy at West Point" "The Peasant Prince"
is a testament to a great man and an important addition to world
history. "Byron E. Price, Texas Southern University""
**2010 FRAUNCES TAVERN MUSEUM BOOK AWARD WINNER** "Despite his
heroic efforts, Kosciuszko's fatherland had to wait a century after
his death before regaining independence from Russia. The world
would have to wait even longer for an accessible, soundly
researched, English-language biography. With "The Peasant Prince,"
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Alex Storozynski has filled the
void. And what a tale he has to tell. A melodramatic, foiled
elopement deprived the young Kosciuszko of the love of his life and
led him to cross the Atlantic and sign up with George Washington's
ragtag rebel army. The Polish emigre engineered the network of
fortifications around West Point that -Benedict Arnold
unsuccessfully tried to betray to the British and that he lped keep
the main British army bottled up in New York City. Kosciuszko also
played a key role in the wilderness campaigns that ended in the
crucial American victory at Saratoga. And he made a triumphal
return to his native Poland in time to lead a doomed but heroic
national struggle against Russia and overwhelming odds. All this
and a supporting cast that amounts to a Who's Who of 18th-century
American and European history. In America, those who knew
Kosciuszko included Benjamin Franklin (who helped recruit him);
George Washington (who had trouble getting Kosciuszko's name right
but hailed him as a military "engineer of -eminence"); Thomas
Jefferson (who called him "as pure a son of liberty as I have ever
known"); and Thomas Paine (who, like Kosciuszko, was granted
honorary French -citizenship by the revolutionary regime but spoke
out against its brutal excesses). In Europe, Kosciuszko's
acquaintances included Napoleon Bonaparte (who tried--and
failed--to use him as a pawn in European power politics) and
Catherine the Great (who, after ruthlessly suppressing the Polish
insurrection, kept Kosciuszko a political prisoner in Russia until
her death in 1796)."--"Wall Street Journal""Alex Storozynski has
just published "The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age
of Revolution," a sweeping, colorful, and absorbing biography that
should restore Kosciuszko to his proper place in history. President
of the Kosciuszko Foundation, which promotes Polish-American
educational exchanges, Storozynski is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning
journalist who knows how to tell a good story. In his account,
Kosciuszko--as soldier in America and then a revolutionary in his
homeland-- exemplified some of the best ideals of his era. He also
experienced some of its worst betrayals and disappointments. ...
Emancipation was 'a controversial idea ahead of his time, '
Storozynski writes--just, as this stirring biography makes clear,
like the man himself."--"Newsweek."com"In "The Peasant Prince" Alex
Storozynski fills a gap in our picture of the American Revolution,
and relates it to the worldwide struggle for freedom. Thaddeus
Kosciuszko was a noble soul with few options, a friend of liberty
in an age of aggression and tyranny. Storozynski shows how he
navigated a life of romance and realpolitik, keeping his principles
intact."--Richard Brookhiser, senior editor of the "National
Review, " and author of "What Would the Founders Do? Our Questions,
Their Answers""Prize-winning journalist Storozynski pulls military
strategist and engineer Thaddeus Kosciuszko (1746-1817) back from
the brink of obscurity by including almost every documented detail
to create the first comprehensive look at a man who once famously
symbolized rebellion. His were the plans sold to the British by
Benedict Arnold. And Kosciuszko's years of devotion to the American
cause framed his efforts to transform Poland into a self-governing
republic freed from the oversight of Russia's interests. He
antagonized Catherine the Great and, later, Napoleon. Kosciuszko
rallied the first Jewish military force since biblical times to
fight for Polish independence, and consistently supported equality
and education for peasants, Jews, Muslim Tatars and American
slaves--which earned him the devotion of the masses and lectures by
the upper classes. Readers of military and American history should
take note: the minute details will enthrall devotees. Casual
readers will benefit from Storozynski's expert crafting of a
readable and fact-filled story that pulls readers into the
immediacy of the revolutionary era's partisan and financial
troubles."--"Publishers Weekly"""The Peasant Prince" is an
objective history that is needed in today's America and Poland. The
hero of Alex's book is one of the fathers of modern democracy in
the same mold as Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Lincoln."--Adam
Michnik, "Solidarnosc" activist and editor in chief of "Gazeta
Wyborcza""In a meticulously researched work, Storozynski greatly
enhances our understanding of Kosciuszko's personality and
motivations by investigating the Pole's relationship and feelings
toward Africans, Jews, and peasants. His contribution advances our
knowledge of this complex character whom Jefferson considered the
'purest son of liberty' he ever knew."--James Pula, Purdue
University"Tapping new sources in archives in Poland and
Switzerland, Alex Storozynski provides a fresh perspective on
Thaddeus Kosciuszko, the Polish engineer most responsible for the
construction of Fortress West Point, General Washington's 'key of
America.'"--Colonel James M. Johnson, U.S. Army (Ret.), military
historian of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, and
former chief of Military History, U.S. Military Academy at West
Point""The Peasant Prince" is a testament to a great man and an
important addition to world history."--Byron E. Price, Texas
Southern University
Advance Praise for "The Peasant Prince""A life of romance and
"realpolitik,""--Richard Brookhiser"In "The Peasant Prince" Alex
Storozynski fills a gap in our picture of the American Revolution,
and relates it to the worldwide struggle for freedom. Thaddeus
Kosciuszko was a noble soul with few options, a friend of liberty
in an age of aggression and tyranny. Storozynski shows how he
navigated a life of romance and realpolitik, keeping his principles
intact."--Richard Brookhiser, senior editor of the "National
Review," and author of "What Would the Founders Do? Our Questions,
Their Answers" ""The Peasant Prince" is an objective history that
is needed in today's America and Poland. The hero of Alex's book is
one of the fathers of modern democracy in the same mold as
Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Lincoln."--Adam Michnik,
"Solidarnosc" activist and editor in chief of "Gazeta Wyborcza""In
a meticulously researched work, Storozynski greatly enhances our
understanding of Kosciuszko's personality and motivations by
investigating the Pole's relationship and feelings toward Africans,
Jews, and peasants. His contribution advances our knowledge of this
complex character whom Jefferson considered the 'purest son of
liberty' he ever knew."--James Pula, Purdue University"Tapping new
sources in archives in Poland and Switzerland, Alex Storozynski
provides a fresh perspective on Thaddeus Kosciuszko, the Polish
engineer most responsible for the construction of Fortress West
Point, General Washington's 'key of America.'"--Colonel James M.
Johnson, U.S. Army (Ret.), military historian of the Hudson River
Valley National Heritage Area, and former chief of Military
History, U.S.Military Academy at West Point""The Peasant Prince" is
a testament to a great man and an important addition to world
history."--Byron E. Price, Texas Southern University
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