Publisher's Synopsis
A Christmas letter from a Polish friend, describing bitter cold and no boots, galvanized Helen De Borchgrave to travel to Poland in March 1984. The country was recovering from martial law, and lacked most things the west take for granted. As well as much-needed provisions, she smuggled forbidden books. Helen was one of a handful of Westerners invited to work in the country at that time. During the course of three years she returned regularly to restore masterpieces in the famous Wawel Castle Museum in Krakow, the first picture conservator from the west since World War II.
