From the House of the Slave to the Home of the Brave. The Motif of Home in Poetry by Black Women since the late 1960s

Jerzy Kamionowski’s book is an innovative continuation of motifs within the Polish American studies in the field pertaining to African American literature and culture. It brings together the traditions of black art, music, and literature with a living contemporary experience. Despite the wide range of techniques, approaches, themes, and subjects analyzed, From the House of the Slave to the Home of the Brave maintains throughout a consistent, logical, and orderly argument. Th e discussion succeeds in demonstrating the artistic power of the works of contemporary black women, who combine aesthetic innovation and sensitivity in order to build a historical and political consciousness of the whole black community.
(dr hab. Kacper Bartczak, prof. UŁ)

From the House of the Slave to the Home of the Brave is (...) a successful attempt to present in a synthetic way a crucial motif of contemporary poetry by African American women. Kamionowski anchors his argument within literary as well as social and historical contexts. He treats the motif of home as an element of the literary imaginary that provides a unique key to understanding important aspects of the collective experience of black Americans, especially women. Jerzy Kamionowski has been writing on African American poetry for many years, and his new book confi rms his expertise in this field.
(dr hab. Marek Paryż, prof. UW)