Poland, strategically located in the geographical centre of Europe, became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in March 1999. Poland and the United Kingdom are expected to be the strongest supporters of the policies of the United States within the NATO Alliance. Poland's remarkable quest for representative government, one of the oldest in modern Eurpoe, is presented against the backdrop of a millennium of history rich in cultural, political, and social events, including centuries of Poland's civilizing role in the expansive area between the Baltic and the Black seas. These topics -- complemented with Polish art, literature, music, architecture, and tradition -- are described by the author in this concise volume, which also includes 50 photos, illustrations, and maps.