Professor Norman Davies comes to Melbourne

Professor Davies is the renown bestselling author of such classics “God's Playground: a history of Poland”, “Heart of Europe: a short history of Poland” and his latest title “Vanished Kingdoms: The Rise and Fall of States and Nations”.

Born in Bolton in 1939, Professor Davies studied in Oxford, Grenoble, Perugia and Sussex, before gaining a doctorate from the Jagiellonian University in Krakw for a study on the Polish-Soviet War of 1920. In 1998 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland awarded in 1998, a Polish order awarded to those who have rendered great service to the Polish nation.

As recently as February this year, Professor Davies received the Aleksander Gieysztor Memorial Prize for his services in the promotion of Polish cultural heritage abroad. Accepting the award at the Royal Castle, Warsaw, he said that one of the main goals of his writings is to make as many people as possible acquainted with the history of Poland and Eastern Europe.

He is an honorary citizen of four Polish cities - Warsaw, Wrocaw, Lublin and Krakw.

“It is a great privilege to have Professor Davies come to Melbourne” says Mr Christopher Lancucki, President Polish Community Council of Victoria “His books have played an enormous role in enhancing Poland’s prestige and fostering greater understanding of our history outside of Poland”.

In addition to speaking at the Commemorative dinner, Professor Davies will conduct a lecture on Sunday 29 April at the Alexander Theatre Monash University Clayton.

Professor Davies visit to Melbourne has been made possible through the Polish Community Council of Victoria.

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