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.

Biography

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.

From the Publisher

Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish-Lithuanian born in 1746, was one of the most important figures of the modern world. Fleeing his homeland after a death sentence was placed on his head (when he dared court a woman above his station), he came to America one month after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, literally showing up on Benjamin Franklin’s doorstep in Philadelphia with little more than a revolutionary spirit and a genius for engineering. Entering the fray as a volunteer in the war effort, he quickly proved his capabilities and became the most talented engineer of the Continental Army.

Kosciuszko went on to construct the fortifications for Philadelphia, devise battle plans that were integral to the American victory at the pivotal Battle of Saratoga, and designed the plans for Fortress West Point—the same plans that were stolen by Benedict Arnold. Then, seeking new challenges, Kosciuszko asked for a transfer to the Southern Army, where he oversaw a ring of African-American spies.

A lifelong champion of the common man and woman, he was ahead of his time in advocating tolerance and standing up for the rights of slaves, Native Americans, women, serfs, and Jews. Following the end of the war, Kosciuszko returned to Poland and was a leading figure in that nation’s Constitutional movement. He became Commander in Chief of the Polish Army and valiantly led a defense against a Russian invasion, and in 1794 he led what was dubbed the Kosciuszko Uprising—a revolt of Polish-Lithuanian forces against the Russian occupiers.

Captured during the revolt, he was ultimately pardoned by Russia’s Paul I and lived the remainder of his life as an internationalcelebrity and a vocal proponent for human rights. Thomas Jefferson, with whom Kosciuszko had an ongoing correspondence on the immorality of slaveholding, called him “as pure a son of liberty as I have ever known.” A lifelong bachelor with a knack for getting involved in doomed relationships, Kosciuszko navigated the tricky worlds of royal intrigue and romance while staying true to his ultimate passion—the pursuit of freedom for all. This definitive and exhaustively researched biography fills a long-standing gap in historical literature with its account of a dashing and inspiring revolutionary figure.

David Lee Poremba - Library Journal

One of the largely forgotten heroes of the American Revolution was a Polish immigrant with a virtually unpronounceable last name-Thaddeus (Tadeusz) KosA´ciuszko (kosh-chew-sko). A brilliant military engineer, KosA´ciuszko arrived in Philadelphia in August 1776 and, on Benjamin Franklin's doorstep, volunteered his services to the Revolution. He proceeded to construct defenses for Philadelphia, helped devise a successful battle plan at Saratoga, and designed the defenses at West Point-the plans that Benedict Arnold was so interested in selling to the British.

Much to the chagrin of his French counterparts, he was appointed chief engineer of the army and participated in the final campaign at Yorktown. KosA´ciuszko returned to Poland eager to emulate the American independence movement there, leading the Polish army against the Russian invasion. Unfortunately, that cause was lost, and he was captured but later pardoned by Tsar Paul I. For the rest of his life, he championed human rights. Using new archival sources in Switzerland and Poland, Storozynski has written a complete biography of a truly great republican. Strongly recommended for both lay readers and specialists.

Kirkus Reviews

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Storozynski debuts with a biography of an exemplary Polish engineer who fought for liberty in Poland and in America. Fired up by the Enlightenment notions of liberty and equality then being tested in the American colonies, Thaddeus Kosciuszko jumped at the chance to aid the Patriots; he would return later to his country and inject these incendiary ideas into the ailing old order. Forced to flee his homeland because of a failed elopement that provoked the ire of the girl's father, Kosciuszko was among the first foreign officers shipped to America in June 1776, as part of French playwright Beaumarchais's secret mission-financed by the French crown-to aid the fledgling revolutionaries.

Soon after his arrival, he ingratiated himself with Benjamin Franklin and distinguished himself in his work as an engineer outlining and preparing defenses against British attack. At General Washington's behest, Kosciuszko was instrumental in fortifying West Point, despite Benedict Arnold's attempts to undermine its strength. Humble, loyal and staunchly abolitionist, Kosciuszko returned to Poland after seven years of war, where he pushed for the enfranchisement of serfs and Jews in the bold May 3, 1791, Constitution, the first in Europe.

Autonomy was not forthcoming, however, and the Polish revolution was quickly quelled. Despite Kosciuszko's pleas to his friend Thomas Jefferson and to Napoleon, no one helped the Poles. Storozynski proves a dutiful, attentive biographer, but the narrative suffers from an uneven pace and merely serviceable prose. A rousingly sympathetic portrayal, but workmanlike and occasionally clunky.

Custromers reviews

A fascinating man and story

I recently saw the author do a book reading on C-SPANs Book TV and was so impressed that I immediately went out and purchased the book. When I got home I realized that I had actually purchased a signed copy. How lucky can you get? I finished the book while on vacation in 4 days. I live in Troy, NY and have traveled many, many times over the Thaddeus Kosciuszko bridge. I knew very little of the man but one of the engineers who built the bridge was a friend of my father's so for most of my life it was Mr. White's bridge.

The opportunity to find out about the man who had a bridge named for him intrigued me. I have read other books on the American Revolution but never learned so much as I did when I read this book. As the book closed on the American Revolution, I had to admit that I wasn't sure the rest of his story would hold my attention. I was wrong. Never before had the story of Poland and Europe been explained in such a way. My history teachers did a poor job of relating such interesting facts and people.

I don't think the story of Thaddeus Kosciuszko was ever taught. How could he be left out of any story of the world's history at that time? What a noble and fascinating human being. I often wonder where our great thinkers and leaders are now. We seem overwhelmed with public figures who are all about greed and self promotion. Are our schools presenting history with the attention it should be given in the classroom? Are we presenting the facts and human drama that shaped the course of the world in a way that our young people can make the link between the past, the present and the future? I'm not so sure but I do my part by trying to educate myself and pass on what I learn. This book has done a lot to help me with my very minor effort to enlighten whoever will indulge me as I relate the stories I read. The story of Thaddeus Kosciuszko has given me a lot to talk about as I sit with my children and try to "turn the light on".

A "Peasant" prince for all times...

If Kosciuszko were alive today, he might well be nominated for "Time" magazine's Man of the Year or even the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite the fact that he fought for US independence and the resurrection of his native Poland, Kosciuszko was a true disciple of the Age of Englightenment; he championed freedom and equality for all ---men, women, African-Americans, Jews, Moslems.

Equally at ease with royalty (Tsar Paul I, the Polish king Stanislaw Poniatowski), peasants, slaves and native Americans, he was far ahead of his times in that respect. And throughout his long life he never wavered from his commitment to democracy and freedom. Alex Storozynski has written a well documented history which took ten years to research. Mr. Storozynski included sources from such varied places as Stockbridge and Worcester, Massachusetts to West Point, New York, to Philadelphia, to Warsaw, to Switzerland and other locales.

The scholarly research, however, is not dry, boring reading. Instead the book reads like a historical novel, which one can't put down. There are vivid descriptions of battles, especially the Battle of Raclawice in which Kosciuszko and his army of peasants killed approximatelly 800 Russians in the fight to regain Poland's independence in 1794. Mr. Storoznynski's descriptions could easily be pictured as an epic movie comparable to "Ben Hur" or "Gone with the Wind."

In addition to being lively and entertaining, the book is also objective in its treatment of Polish history, which is not often the case with some historians. Mr. Storozynski details how the Polish land owners and magnates, as well as some aristocrats helped to subvert the cause of Polish independence with their petty jealous squabbles arising from their fear of democracy and equality. If Kosciuszko appears larger than life in the book, it is based on historical facts on both sides of the Atlantic. "The Peasant Prince" is truly a book for all times. I believe Kosciuszko would be equally at home with President Obama as well as other world leaders today, whether they be Christian, Muslem, Jew, or atheists, of any race or ethnic persuasion.

History comes alive and takes you by the hand...

I was amazed at the thorough research conducted by Alex Storozynski, and enjoyed reading the entire work. In the intro Storozynski mentioned that he wanted the true person of Kosciuszko to be portrayed, and not just a eulogized image, and that purpose was most definitely fulfilled. You meet a real a man with a real human nature, someone you can identify with, and also greatly admire because of his nobleness of purpose and his perseverance to his ideals of equality for all humanity, and the freedom he desired for his homeland, Poland.

My only problem with the book, was there were a few times that I wanted to know 'more' and I can easily see how the book could be twice its length! I don't know how long Storozynski spent conducting research and writing, but his depth of knowledge of Kosciuszko and Polish history is evident. I also really enjoyed Storozynski's 'word-smithing' that was evident throughout the book, from the chapter titled 'Napoleon comes up short' (gotta love that one!) to "It would be sixty years before the healing powers of the fountains of Lourdes would first mystify southern France, yet when Kosciuszko's ship docked nearby at the port of Bayonne on June 28, 1798, he cast aside his crutches and stood up on his own."

Being much more than just a list of facts in chronological order, Storozynski's book brings you face to face with real people. He not only brought the person of Kosciuszko alive to me, but I also enjoyed meeting others. I didn't realize that Niemcewicz was such a blabber mouth and tried to ride Kosciuszko's coat tails. And Chief Little Turtle's advice on having an affair with Catherine was priceless. Jefferson came alive, as did others, like Ludwika his first love.

I had no idea that Kosciuszko's will (the purpose of which was to free and educate African slaves in America) never materialized after his death. I also had not realized the Washington/Lafayette vs the Jefferson/Kosciuszko connection and found that thought-provoking as well. And I really enjoyed reading about the last part of his life. In my own studies on Kosciuszko, I had not come across any more than 'he spent the last years of his life in Switzerland with the Zeltner family.' I love the prayer that he wrote during his last years. there was just so much that I enjoyed reading and discovering about Kosciuszko that my own copy of Storoznski's book The Peasant Prince has many 'dog-eared' pages so I could easily find this or that fact that fascinated me about this great man's life.

This book will captivate anyone who wants to read the life story of a true hero; his trials, triumphs and temptations: and be inspired!

Kosciuszko biography

Finally Polish-American hero has professionally written biography. Kosciuszko was one of those who change the World around him successfully. His visionary mind led him always where people were fighting for freedom. From Poland to France, from France to America than back to Europe and again to America. He was an adventurer what makes book not boring at all. It worth to reed it. Even in Polish it is hard to find Kosciuszko's biography as good as this one.

Historical Storytelling At Its Best!

The Peasant Price is an absorbing tale of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish freedom fighter and one of the most fascinating figures on the world stage from late 18th and early 19th century. Alex Storozynski introduces us to a man of great character who came to the aide of the United States during the Revolutionary War and against incredible odds never gave up hope for freedom in his home country. This book is thoroughly researched, beautifully written and will leave you inspired and longing for more!

All quotations come from this source: Barnes and Noble