Poland
214
Lezenski, Cezary (text)
Karczewski, Lech T. (illus.)
Bartek, Zuzanna i Kopernik
(Bartek, Zuzanna and Copernicus)
Torun : Graffiti BC, 1999. – 192pp
ISBN 83-900-7847-3
Poland - Time-slip <1473-1543> -
Copernicus, Nicolaus
15-year-old Bartek has the supranatural ability to travel through time. Because his friend
Zuzanna is interested in the astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543),
he decides to visit Copernicus and his times. The first station is Torun, where Copernicus
spent his childhood, the second Cracow, where he studied, then Lidzbarg Warminski, where
he worked as a priest and doctor; the final station is Frombork, where Bartek meets the
great man awaiting death. On his travels (Zuzanna accompanies him on the last one), Bartek
learns to understand the extent of Copernicus' contribution to the sciences as well as his
human weaknesses. He witnesses the boy Copernicus breaking the neighbours' windows, the
student accumulating debts, and the priest having an affair with Anna, his beautiful
housekeeper. The design of this paperback book is simple but attractive. The cheerful
illustrations convey a vivid impression of the historical setting. (12+)