Join us for a thought-provoking book talk on The Hour of Revenge, a powerful historical study that re-examines the immediate aftermath of the Second World War through the lived experiences of Polish Jewish survivors of the Holocaust.

In this session, we will explore how the emotional landscape of post-war Europe was shaped not only by trauma and loss, but also by complex responses such as retribution and the desire for justice. While much historical writing has focused on large-scale post-war violence, this book brings attention to the overlooked individual experiences of Polish Jews navigating survival, memory, and rebuilding their lives.

Author Katarzyna Person offers a deeply researched account of how survivors confronted their traumatic pasts while actively participating in the reconstruction of their communities. The discussion will highlight how Polish Jews moved across the shifting boundaries of “East” and “West” Europe before the Iron Curtain, how they negotiated memories of both war and pre-war life, and how they formed emotional and social networks in the aftermath of destruction.

We will also reflect on the book’s broader contribution to understanding post-conflict societies, migration, and identity—showing how connections to lost homelands can express both belonging and exclusion in times of profound change.