Quiet Hero hits NYT bestseller list

The book tells the story of the author’s father, Ryszard Kossobudzki, now eighty five year-old and a resident of the United States, former insurgent in the Warsaw Rising of 1944 and a German POW in World War Two.

He found his war-time experience too painful to share with his family for many decades and it was only several years ago that, after her mother’s death, while sorting out her belongings, Rita Cosby discovered a suitcase containing mementos from the youth of the man she knew only as Richard Cosby: a worn Polish Resistance armband; rusted tags bearing a prisoner number and the words Stalag IVB; and an identity card for an ex-POW bearing the name Ryszard Kossobudzki.

Quiet Hero. Secrets from my Father’s Past reveals how Rita Cosby uncovered an amazing personal story of heroism and courage, as well as the untold secrets of her father. It also contains an account of their journey to Poland in 2009, Ryszard Kossobudzki’s first visit to his homeland in sixty five years.

In an interview for the Polish Press Agency, Rita Cosby said that the book’s presence in the NYT bestsellers’ list is of great significance for its promotion.

“It is not my success but a success for Poland. I feel this is an important war-time story, thanks to which American readers are able to expand their knowledge about Poland and its history. I am extremely proud of my Polish ancestry. If thanks to my book the American people learn more about the Warsaw Rising, the Home Army (AK) and the heroism displayed by Poles in World War II, it will be proof that writing it was well worth the effort,” she said.

Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York, welcomed the success of Quiet Hero with a statement, in she describes it as ‘a historic moment for the entire Polish community’.

“It has been decades since a book about this defining piece of World War II history has achieved such prominence both for its writer and our citizenry. We are tremendously proud of Rita Cosby and her father Richard who as a brave resistance fighter was unwavering in the battle against sheer evil and steadfast in his devotion to his country. For this, Poland is forever grateful,” the Polish Consul wrote.

Quiet Hero was published in the United States in hardback, as well as in a Polish translation, last year. It is now also available in the English language paperback edition. (mk)