Bortne

Bortne: Selo Z Kaminia tells the story of Bartne (Lemko: Bortne), a Lemko village located in southeastern Poland in what used to be Galicia, a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Dating back to at least the last quarter of the 16th century, the village covered almost twenty square kilometers and at its peak was home to more than a thousand people, Lemkos, Jews and Gypsies. 

Using historical research as well as memoirs, historical prose and even poetry, the book traces Bortne's religious, political, economic and cultural development, paying special attention to pivotal historical events like emigration to America as well as the forced resettlements of the 1940s. The stone-mason industry, which once made the village famous, is another major focus. Also included is a biographical dictionary of accomplished individuals who were either born in or at some point lived in Bortne. The book is richly illustrated and includes 50 tables, some of which list hundreds of names. 

Along with original research by Bogdan Horbal, the book also contains works by several other authors.

The text is mostly in the Lemko Rusyn language, with some chapters in Polish and one in Ukrainian. The many illustrations and the wealth of reference material will be of interest to readers of any language.