Why a Booktrail?
1940s: A town of three identities is bound to hold some secrets….
House of Day, House of Night
What you need to know before your trail
Nowa Ruda, a Polish town, has in the last 100 years, been both German, Czech as well as Austro-Hungarian. When a new couple arrive in the town they are stuck by an odd feeling in the community. There are secrets in this village, which the wife is determined to capture.
Travel Guide
Nowa Ruda
Nowa Ruda, which features rather unheroically in House of Day, House of Night is a town in south-western Poland near the Czech border, which lies partly on the Włodzica river. Following World War II the region became part of Poland, and the Germans there were expelled. Ostpolitik was then adopted by the German Chancellor Willy Brandt, and so the former German inhabitants were allowed to travel to their hometowns and many tried to establish relations there. It’s a strange place – nice and creepy all at once.
There are lots of locations in that area described in House of Day, House of Night – e.g. Wambierzyce (huge cathedral and stations of the cross in tiny town) – Wambierzyce is called the “Silesian Jerusalem”, and is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in southern Poland.
Broumov (Czech town across the border but very nearby), Klodzko (lovely) and of course Walbrzych (depressing as heck).
Krajanow
Olga’s actual village, which is Krajanow, in the Gory Stolowe/Table Mountains. This is where House of Day is largely set. Olga holds an annual literary festival here in July. Again, the film Pokot was made around here, so you can see it in detail there!
Booktrail Boarding Pass: House of Day, House of Night
Author/Guide: Olga Tokarczuk Destination: Krajanow, Wambierzyce Departure Time: 1940s
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