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Michał D. Poland
Hello Matej,
I'm the hitchhiker from Poland you picked up a couple of days ago. I just wanted to write to you and thank you once again for giving me your book.
I actually read the whole book on my train journey back home to Poland. Once I started reading, I just kept going until I finished it.
I really enjoyed it, although “enjoyed” might not be the right word considering the story it tells. I found it deeply moving, and it gave me a lot to think about. Reading about the war, captivity and all the horrors that followed from the perspective of one individual person made it feel much more real and personal than simply reading about these events in a history book. Your grandfather went through things that are genuinely difficult to imagine today.
I also think the book is very well written and incredibly well researched. I especially liked the footnotes at the bottom of the pages. They add a lot of historical context and explain things that otherwise might be easy to overlook, without taking away from your grandfather’s story.
Knowing that this is the story of your own grandfather made it even more powerful, and I'm really glad that our paths happened to cross and that you decided to give me a copy.
Thank you very much for the book, Matej. It really means a lot to me, and I don't think I'll ever forget receiving it — or the completely unexpected way I got it.
It was a pleasure meeting you, and I wish you all the best.
Greetings from Poland,
Michał D.
Christopher H. England
“A timeless warning from history.”In the Vortex of Fate is more than a memoir — it’s a message for the world we live in today. As the war in Ukraine unfolds, this book reminds us that behind every statistic is a real person, a real story, a real pain. The writing is vivid and deeply moving, the translation beautifully done. When I finished the last page, I realized that peace is not something we inherit — it’s something we must protect, every single day.
Michael Turner USA
“A haunting, unforgettable book.”
I’ve read many World War II memoirs, but In the Vortex of Fate is unlike anything I’ve encountered before. It’s not just a story about survival — it’s a deeply human look into the soul of someone trapped in the machinery of war. The fact that it takes place in Ukraine, a land still torn by conflict today, makes it even more powerful. Every page reminds you how fragile peace truly is. I finished the book with tears in my eyes — and with a heart full of gratitude for the freedom we often take for granted.