WINDY CITY, POLISH CITY
Dominica A. Pacyga declares, “Polish Chicago and Polish America cannot be understood without understanding Polish history.” The author takes this idea very seriously. He has filled his incredibly detailed story of Polish influence on. Other topics like institutions and their proceedings run to the dry side. Among ’s ensemble cast of Polish Chicagoans, only a few—musician Walter “Li’l Wally” Jagiello stands out—emerge fully fledged. The book’s opening may seem chaotic in its account of intricate conflicts within the Polish diaspora, but this foundational material proves its worth as the narrative advances. In vividly conveying Polish Chicago’s complexity, diversity, and vastness, Pacyga illuminates many Polish-American factions, institutions, and social groups, as well as a wealth of cultural influences transmitted, received, and kept vibrant in Chicago and environs throughout what has been almost a 200-year Polish presence there.
