The Storyteller of Krakow

BRAND NEW from the bestselling author of The Watchmaker of Dachau comes a powerful novel about love, heartbreak, and the stories we tell ourselves. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Fiona Valpy and All the Light We Cannot See.

It takes courage to tell your story…

Kraków, 1994. When an elderly woman named Lena meets a young girl, the child is carrying a toy bear, who she has named Wojtek. She quietly tells Lena it’s named after a bear who was famous in the second world war. This is a name Lena hasn’t heard in many years. And so she begins her story…

Kraków, 1940. When Lena was young, she loved to tell stories – about the places she would go, the battles she would fight, the great loves she might have – imagining herself the heroine in every tale. But when the Soviet forces invade her town, and take her to a Siberian gulag, leaving her with no family, no home, no strength to fight… her dreams feel further away than ever.

Until the Soviets change sides in the war, and Lena finds herself being rescued, and on an unexpected journey – one that runs in parallel with a tame bear named Wojtek. As their journey takes them across the Middle East, to Africa, and finally to war-torn Italy, she realized there might be a chance for her to live the life she always told stories about – fighting the hated Nazis.

But there is one thing missing… a great love. Lena knows she doesn’t need saving by a man. But when Wojtek the bear leads her to an injured stranger, she realises perhaps it’s not her who needs rescue. The only problem is that the man she’s led to is a German soldier, on the other side of the war from her…

Can love conquer all in wartime? Don’t miss this unforgettable story!

Readers love Carly Schabowski’s powerful historical novels:

“A stunningly, different WW2 story… Emotional and raw… Will stay with me for a long time.” Helen Parusel, author

“A powerful and moving story… I was both intrigued and touched… Highly recommended.” Kate Hewitt, author

“Never have I read a story told in such a poignant manner… Absorbing with a beautifully-drawn cast of characters. An exquisite gift to the reader that wraps around your heart.” Jina Bacarr, author

"The Storyteller of Krakow" was written by Carly Schabowski.

Carly Schabowski is a lecturer and the USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, including The Rainbow and The Girl with the Red Ribbon, with translations in over ten countries. She is a former journalist, and is currently an associate lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, where she completed both her MA and PhD.