“All too few people write and comment on the rich connections between Britain and Poland, but Piotr Wilczek's collection of sparkling essays is an exceptional contribution. The broad range of topics, the variety of personalities introduced, and the high quality of the writing make for a truly exciting read.”

— Norman Davies, historian & author of Europe: A History and God’s Playground: A History of Poland

“We are not usually the best judge of ourselves; others see us more clearly. In this book, a representative of one of Britain’s closest European allies observes her with a sensitive eye, which is at once deeply appreciative but not yet dulled by over-familiarity. Piotr Wilczek's thinking about Britain and Poland together casts fresh and perceptive light on both.”

— Lord Nigel Biggar, Member of the House of Lords and author of Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning

“Soft shoe is the art of sliding and sidestepping, while diplomacy is a dance of soft skills—communicating mutual needs with discretion. In his enlightening book of essays, Entwined Histories, Poland’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Piotr Wilczek, takes us behind closed doors as he moves through the salons of Washington, London, and Warsaw, building trust and fostering cooperation. From Donald Trump to Queen Elizabeth II and the enduring legacy of Winston Churchill, Wilczek leads the reader on a journey shaped by repeated acts of diplomacy, each grounded in a profound sense of historical awareness. Here is a diplomat who understands the quiet courtesy essential to relations between emissaries and a historian who thoughtfully explores how these bonds might be strengthened—for your freedom and ours, as Poles like to say.”

— Alex Storozynski, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Chairman of the Kosciuszko Foundation, author of The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution

“A fascinating pot pourri of essays – on faith, history, culture and life – which elegantly showcases the warmth, wit and erudition of their author – Piotr Wilczek, the Polish Ambassador to the Court of St James’s. His words – written with considerable elan – show that the Ambassador’s role is not just to represent the interests of the home country abroad, but also to act as an interlocutor, helping both host and guest to a better understanding of one another and of the bonds that bind them.”

— Roger Moorhouse, historian and author of First to Fight: The Polish War 1939

“Ambassador Wilczek is not only a diplomat - he is also an intellectual historian and in this delightful book he pulls together so many strands: diplomatic, artistic, literary and royal. I learnt much of interest and feel that both Poland and Great Britain were lucky to have such an erudite envoy, strengthening the ties between our two countries on so many different levels”

— Hugo Vickers, royal biographer, historian, and broadcaster and author Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, The Queen Mother & The Duchess of Windsor

“Memoirs of diplomats usually deal with political successes or failures. Few record their encounters with culture or present one culture through the lens of another. Piotr Wilczek succeeds in showing us a kinder and gentler side of diplomacy. He takes us for a leisurely walk through cultural events and significant contacts, and leaves us with the proposition that diplomacy is still possible.”

— Ewa M. Thompson, professor & author of Imperial Knowledge: Russian Literature and Colonialism

“Entwined Histories is a witty and often humorous collection of stylishly composed, personal and scholarly essays, full of insights into the Anglo-Polish relationship of nations and their peoples. Like the best of the best of short films, Ambassador Wilczek’s essays are both memorable and mercifully short.”

—Peter Fudakowski, screenwriter, producer and director; creative producer of the Oscar-winning movie Tsotsi

“From Pablo Neruda to Octavio Paz and Washington Irving, the list of ambassadors who write well is short. Piotr Wilczek - Poland’s former ambassador to Washington, now in London - is an impressive addition to the list. Whether dealing with hefty matters of diplomacy or searching for the best Polish restaurants in London, Wilczek writes with wit, ease and invention. And, like Joseph Conrad before him, he favours a subtle and nuanced English that most natives would envy.”

— Waldemar Januszczak, acclaimed art critic, documentary filmmaker, and long-standing columnist for The Sunday Times