Review of the book by Mariusz Borowiak "Podwodni tropiciele"

Recently, I got my hands on Mariusz Borowiak’s book “Podwodni tropiciele – tajemnica wraku destroyczyciela eskortowego ORP Kujawiak”. The book had its premiere during the Wreck Diving Festival in Łódź and it was there that I was able to take a closer look at it for the first time. Now that I have my own copy, page by page, without any hurry, I was able to familiarize myself with the entire content of this publication.

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As the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover (and rightly so), but it doesn’t hurt to look at it, as it can tell us a lot about the author’s/author’s and publisher’s approach to the book itself, as well as to the reader. In this particular case, we get a book from the Almapress publishing house that makes a good impression from the very first contact with it. Hard cover, solid workmanship and stylish graphic design definitely encourage to take a look inside.

Mariusz Borowiak serves us the content of “Podwodne tropicieli” in five essential parts. Reading the subsequent chapters, we learn the history of both the forming foundations of the Polish Navy, the first unit called “Kujawiak” and “Kujawiak”, which is the axis of the entire story. Everything is given in detail from the very beginning to the end, with descriptions and side plots.

There is also no lack of graphics and photographs relating to the presented content, which harmonises well and creates a coherent whole, giving a detailed picture of the issues discussed. Discussing individual threads, the author builds a multi-layered picture of the world of the times of the Second Republic and the emerging Polish Navy. There are also detailed profiles of seamen, whose lives were intertwined with the “Polish Hunt”.

Arguably the whole picture is made even fuller by the footage included on the DVD that accompanies the book, but unfortunately it wasn’t in my edition, so I can’t comment on it in any way.

At the end of the historical sketch we move 70 years into the future, or rather into the present. It is here that we meet the people involved in the “hunt” for the wreck of the escort destroyer L 72. Together with the people who want to write the last chapter in the history of “Kujawiak”, we scour the waters surrounding Malta. From sonar searches, through data analyses, checking further details, combing the depths with the ROV robot, to the final dive. The Polish expedition reaches the wreck of a Polish ship. A finale like from a good film, with a happy ending and due honours, just as we all would like it to be.

Whether you are a lover of history, diving, wreck exploration or simply a good book, you will definitely be satisfied with reading Mariusz Borowiak’s book. “Podwodni tropiciele” is a solid and stylish book and, paradoxically, in my opinion it is its weakest point. The content and the way it is systematised and presented stand up for themselves. The form certainly complements the whole, but I would swallow subsequent chapters with interest, even if they were printed on napkins.

Conclusion: if you have come to our site and are reading this review, this is a must-read item for you dear reader.

Mariusz Borowiak (born 1964), author of 32 books and brochures on naval warfare, co-author of dictionary and encyclopaedia entries. The book “Westerplatte. In Defence of Truth” was used as a basis for a film script. His press articles and books were a pretext for preparing numerous radio and TV reports. Known for debunking “historical truths” about the Polish Navy in the years 1918-1947 and the German U-Bootwaffe during World War II.