Book excerpt: 'The White Eagle of Poland' by E.F. Benson is a comprehensive analysis of the complex issue of reconstructing a free Polish state after World War I. The book explores how Poland can act as a crucial barrier to prevent Germany from expanding eastward and dominating the world. The author describes the partitions of Poland and the nationalities it was composed of before the war, to show why Poland's independence is crucial. The book also delves into the internal conditions of the Russian Kingdom of Poland during the war, which the occupying powers complicated.