Without Dogma: A Novel of Modern Poland

"Without Dogma: A Novel of Modern Poland" by Henryk Sienkiewicz is a late 19th-century story that follows Leon Ploszowski, a thoughtful man wrestling with his place in the world and the complicated nature of love. We meet Leon as he decides to keep a diary to examine his life, after a conversation with his friend, while he is in Rome. He struggles with a lack of direction and his feelings toward love, art, and society. Leon prepares to return to Warsaw, knowing his aunt hopes to find him a wife. This is further complicated by his growing feelings for Aniela, who is dealing with what society expects of her, and what she wants, creating a sense of tension for what might happen next. The novel takes on big topics like who we are, where we come from, and the battle between what we want and what others expect of us.