UNVANQUISHED- the life of Josesph Pilsudski, the man who liberated Poland and saved Europe from Bolshevik revolution. The "father of Polish independence," Pilsudski is one of the most consequential, yet little known, historical figures of the twentieth century.

"A comprehensive, rich in detail, and very readable biography of Poland's outstanding national hero.  The author makes  a compelling case that Marshal Pilsudski not only reignited long-  partitioned Poland's quest for independence but also, by decisively  defeating in 1920 at the gates of Warsaw the westward march of the  Soviet Army, prevented a communist revolution in post-World War I  Germany."

                                                                       Zbigniew Brzezinski

US National Security Advisor (1977-81), Trustee for the Center for Strategic and International Studies

"He who does not respect and value his past is not worthy of the present..."

- Józef Piłsudski

Unvanquished: Joseph Pilsudski, Resurrected Poland, and the Struggle for Eastern Europe

Pingora Press (724 pp.) $24.95 Hardback  ISBN: 978-0983656302

Unvanquished is the epic story of Joseph Pilsudski (1867-1935), the father of Polish independence. Poland was once one of the most powerful, prosperous, and progressive states in the world. But at the time of Pilsudski's birth, Poland did not officially exist, as the country had been partitioned by its German (Prussian, Austrian) and Russian neighbors in 1795.  Through a combination of perseverance, singleness of purpose, and luck, Pilsudski was able to resurrect Poland as an independent republic, and through his inspirational leadership, to protect the state against its traditional enemies.

Pilsudski was an unlikely messiah. During much of his life, he was impoverished, imprisoned, or under constant threat of arrest. He was denied a university education, a traditional career, or a normal family life. Yet somehow he emerged as the leader of the restored Polish state, and although lacking formal military training, defeated the Red Army, which was intent on spreading the Bolshevik Revolution to Poland, and beyond. He was Poland's preeminent patriot, the most charismatic politician of the era, and a quintessential modern hero.

Yet few outside of Eastern Europe are familiar with Pilsudski and Poland's story, partially because this history has often been deliberately distorted. Poland has been the victim of two hundred years of negative publicity, in part orchestrated by her enemies, which has manifested itself in everything from revisionist history to bad jokes. This book is an attempt to set the record straight.

Unvanquished chronicles one of the most inspiring of human endeavors; the triumph of the lost cause. As Pilsudski's life illustrates, a cause is lost only when it is abandoned, and that it is the struggle, win or lose, that defines us. Or as Pilsudski put it, "to be vanquished and not surrender, that is victory."

PRAISE FOR UNVANQUISHED

Hetherington brings Joseph Pilsudski to life…Unvanquished is a riveting biography which reads almost like an adventure novel. It is well written and documented.                                      — Polish Weekly

Unvanquished is a monumental work of stunning detail and impressive depth... a must-read for anyone interested in this fascinating…character and the tumultuous times in which he lived.                                                                                                            —Mark G. McLaughlin, ForeWord Clarion Review

Hetherington warrants praise for the thoroughness of his research and the consistently engaging quality of his prose. His ability to sift through the lion's share of Polish history and interweave that history with the singular life of freedom fighter, and eventual dictator, Joseph Pilsudski, is a remarkable feat...there's much to be enjoyed, and much to be learned.                                                                                        — Kirkus

A comprehensive, compelling biography…fascinating history. Like a novel you hate to put down, it is readable and captivating.                                                                                  — Polish American Journal                        

Hetherington tells the complete story of a man who stood at the center of the stage in Eastern Europe for more than a generation. …The book rolls on at a detective-story pace. It is historically accurate without pedantry, and it creates suspense and excitement. Read the first chapter, "The Citadel," and you will not let go until you reach the back cover.

                                                                           —  Ewa Thompson, Research Professor of Slavic Studies, Rice University

“Unvanquished” is an important and majestic biography as complex, as engrossing, and as important as its subject. It’s required reading for anyone who wants to understand all of Europe as well as Poland   —Steven Maginni , IndieReader