The Lion of Poland: The Story of Paderewski

"The Lion of Poland: The Story of Paderewski" by Ruth Fox Hume is a biography that tells about Ignacy Jan Paderewski, a talented Polish man who was a pianist, composer, and also a politician, taking place in the early 1960s. The story starts by talking about how he grew up when Poland was trying to become free, and it shows how his life was affected by what was happening in his country, especially as the Polish people struggled with foreign control of their land. The narrative starts when he was just four years old, when Russian soldiers invaded his home and arrested his father for allegedly being involved in revolutionary activities. As a result, as the young Paderewski grew up, he became determined to do what he could to help Poland achieve its independence. This narrative highlights the hardships the family faced after his father was arrested, as well as the difficulties he encountered during his music education, and his success to become a celebrated pianist and a symbol of Polish pride.