The Bonnet
The Bonnet by Katarína Kucbelová, published by Seagull Books in 2024, is a 224-page work that intricately weaves together themes of tradition and women’s narratives. This first prose piece by the Slovak poet explores the intersection of personal and political realms, delving into the lives of the Slovak majority and the Roma minority. Through the lens of bonnet making, Kucbelová presents a critical examination of folk art while also addressing broader social issues, including prejudice and discrimination.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of stories that highlight the importance of mentorship and the transmission of craft across generations. The narrative unfolds through the author’s experiences in the village of Sumiac, where she learns from Il’ka, one of the last practitioners of this dying art. Alongside Il’ka’s story, the book also reflects on the author’s grandmother’s experiences, offering insights into the roles of women in rural Europe from the early twentieth century to the present day. The Bonnet serves as a poignant commentary on the power of tradition and the significance of women’s stories in shaping cultural identity.
Official synopsis Publisher
A beautifully written and moving story about the power of tradition and the importance of women’s stories.
The Bonnet, the first work of prose by Slovak poet Katarína Kucbelová, defies easy pigeonholing: both political and personal, it is a work of literary reportage, a quest for one’s roots, a critical exploration of folk art and, not least, social commentary on the coexistence of the Slovak majority and the Roma minority, offering a nuanced and sympathetic look at the lives of Roma people in Slovakia, and raising important questions about the nature of prejudice and discrimination. Over two years, the author made regular visits to the remote village of Sumiac in Slovakia to learn the dying craft of bonnet making from one of its last practitioners, Il’ka, an elderly local woman who in the process became her mentor in more ways than one. Through the parallel stories of Il’ka and the narrator’s grandmother, The Bonnet also offers a subtly feminist reading of the position of women in rural Europe from the early twentieth century to the present day.
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