Gerald Schmidt

Survival is daily struggle; intelligence, a dangerous gift. Under harsh Prussian rule, peasants forage food. Brilliant orphan Val Karnowski is taken in by kind man who insists on his education — wife resists. His school’s goal is to erase Polish identity. Val faces jealous teachers, bullies, German favoritism. In dark visions of history’s tyrants, Satan urges Bismarck to crush Poles & Jews. Rich historical...

1848 Poland. People forage for food, orphan Val Karnowski is adopted by Henry Flis. Despite wife’s objections, Henry insists Val attend school to nurture gifts. only option: State school hostile to Poles. follow Val’s first grammar-school year: bullies, tattle-tales, in/out crowds, jealous peers & teachers, favoritism for Prussians, bias toward others. Interwoven: Bismarck’s 3 am demonic visits urging...