Polish independence following the end of World War I marked a new era for a nation that had endured centuries of foreign partition. But the spirit of Polish nationalism - forged during this long period of external domination - has frequently been at odds with the modernising drives of democracy and communism. How can the ideals of nationalism survive in a modern nation-state? Anita Prazmowska traces this conflict from the emergence of an independent Poland in 1918; through World War II, communism and the democratic victories of Solidarity; to the present day, when Polish membership of the EU is changing perceptions both within Poland and in the wider world. Poland: A Modern History presents a vivid and accessible portrait of Poland's tumultuous history over the past century. It is a clear and concise introduction to a nation which, often at the epicentre of European political history, has nevertheless sometimes struggled to define its national identity.

Anita Prazmowska is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her previous books include Civil War in Poland 1942 - 1948, Poland and the Eastern Front, Britain and Poland 1939 - 1943: The Betrayed Ally and A History of Poland.