I was keen to read this book thinking it is a biography, but I soon found it is a mix of Kosciuszko's biography and also the author's  travelogue, his thoughts and comments about the many places he visited, the food he ate, long comments about his family he visited in America while retracing Kosciuszko's steps in his research for writing the book.  It is enjoyable reading with the authors wry sense of humour.

One of the important points that Anthony Sharwood highlights several times is the careless way in which people have misspelt Kosciuszko's name, leaving out the "z'. Indeed as I am writing this review my computer keeps trying to incorrectly, correct the spelling without the crucial "z". Not only is leaving out the "z" incorrect, it is disrespectful to misspell someone's name and especially such a remarkable person. The author does go to some lengths talking about the common usage of the letter "z" int he Polish language.

This extract perfectly illustrates the thoughtful and considerate man Kosciuszko was. "When Kosciuszko was up for promotion during the Revolutionary War, his first thought was to avoid creating resentment among lesser skilled but fiercely ambitious French and American engineers, so he wrote to his senior officer, Colonel Robert Troup, "My dear Colonel if you see that my promotion will make a great many jealous, tell me General that I will not accept of one because I prefer peace more than the greatest rank in the world".

Kosciuszko was a military engineer, who studied at home and in Paris. On one his visits to Paris he arrived on the day that King Louis XVI was executed, yet Kosciuszko still managed to engage in scheduled important meetings.

He played a crucial part in the American War of Independence. Gates, George Washington's Commander in. Chief acknowledged that they would not have won the Revolutionary War without Saratoga and they would have not won Saratoga without the young military engineer, Tadeusz Kosciuszko who also challenged his friend Thomas Jefferson to live up to his words "all men are created free". Jefferson called Kosciuszko 'as pure a son of liberty as I have ever known', 

We read that he advocated the establshment of an American military school and wrote on this subject to Thomas Jefferson many times. This resulted in the establishment of the initerationally famous and prestigious West Point. Later on we read that he loved gardens and he also designed and set up the magnificent gardens at West Point, with his own labour, hauling earth and  doing the planting.

Back in his beloved Poland he wanted the country to be free and led the Uprising against Russia by talking to thousands of people garnering their help to join him as he promised equality for all and their freedom.

Poland had a large Jewish population and this includes details of how he spoke with leaders and addressed the people to join the Uprising, he valued their skills and knowledge. There were many landholders especially aristocrats who were worried because they relied on their serfs to work their lands and if the serfs were free who would do this work? As an estate holder with his own serfs Kosciuszko treated them well, but he understood the other landowner's concerns.

This remarkable man didn't ask for much, while fighting in the US, his payments were delayed considerably, although the funds accumulated over the years, plus interest, but he never withdrew his funds from his account. In his Will he left the money to free and help educate slaves, buy farms and the implements they would need. Jefferson was the executor of his last Will but it is unclear and it appears that his wishes were not carried out.

Kosciuszko loved his coffee and when at war he requested  six pounds of coffee with appropriate quantity of sugar. He said he must have his coffee. I enjoy a good coffee too, I had to love this.

After following Kosciuszko's footsteps, crossing continents and finally to Switzerland where he died, the author then addresses the conundrum of calling Australia's highest peak after him. Back home he discusses with Aboriginal elders in the region and the history of the area surrounding the mountain, from an indigenous perspective and colonial one, including why fellow Pole, Strzelecki named the mountain after this, most revered, Polish man in history. Sharwood writes about the thoughts of locals to change the name, but it appears there isn't one particular name that can be agreed on so it remains.

All these aspects make this interesting and engaging reading. But be aware this is not a usual biography, but rather a book of discovery together with an author-centric travellogue.

The Author

Anthony Sharwood is a Walkley Award-winning journalist who has worked in TV, newspapers, magazines and online news sites. Formerly a sportswriter who covered several Olympic Games, he now specialises in the environment, climate and weather. In 2020 he released the acclaimed From Snow to Ash, a love letter to the Australian High Country written after walking the Australian Alps Walking Track and in 2021 he explored the passionate environmental and cultural battle over Australia's wild horses in The Brumby Wars. His books Kosciuszko and Bring Your A Game are both 2024 releases.