The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 1 (of 2)

The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 1 (of 2)

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

THE DELUGE. An Historical Novel OF POLAND, SWEDEN, AND RUSSIA.A SEQUEL TO “WITH FIRE AND SWORD.”BYHENRYK SIENKIEWICZ.AUTHORIZED AND UNABRIDGED TRANSLATION FROM THE POLISH BYJEREMIAH CURTIN.IN TWO VOLUMES.VOLUMES 1 and 2 1915.Copyright, 1891, by Jeremiah Curtin. TO HON. CHARLES A. DANA,Editor of “The Sun,”New York.Sir,--I beg to dedicate to you this translation of a remarkable work, touching a period eventful in the history of the Poles, and the Slav race in general. You will appreciate the pictures of battle and trial contained in these volumes, for you know great events not from books merely but from personal contact. You receive pleasure from various literatures, and from considering those points of character by which nations and men are distinguished; hence, as I think, THE DELUGE will give you some mental enjoyment, and perhaps turn your attention to a new field of history.JEREMIAH CURTIN.Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of Ethnology,November 25, 1891. INTRODUCTION.The wars described in THE DELUGE are the most complicated and significant in the whole career of the Commonwealth, for the political motives which came into play during these wars had their origin in early and leading historical causes.The policy of the Teutonic Knights gave the first of its final results in the war of 1655, between Sweden and Poland, since it made the elector independent in Prussia, where soon after, his son was crowned king. The war with Great Russia in 1654, though its formal cause came, partly at least, from the struggle of 1612, in which the Poles had endeavored to subjugate Moscow, was really roused by the conflict of Southern Russian with Poland to win religious and material equality.The two fundamental events of Polish history are the settlement of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia, through the action of the Poles themselves; and the union of Poland with Lithuania and Russia by the marriage of Yadviga, the Polish princess, to Yagyello, Grand Prince of Lithuania.Before touching on the Teutonic Knights, a few words may be given to the land where they began that career which cut off Poland from the sea, took from the Poles their political birthplace, and gave its name and territory to the chief kingdom of the new German Empire, the kingdom which is in fact the creator and head of that Empire.Prussia in the thirteenth century extended from the Vistula eastward to the Niemen, and from the Baltic southward about as far as it does at present. In this territory lived the Prussians. East of the Niemen lived the Lithuanians, another division of the same stock of people. West of the Vistula lay Pomorye, [Means “On the sea”] now Pomerania, occupied at that time exclusively by Slavs under Polish dominion.The Prussians, a people closely related to the Slavs, were still Pagans, as were also the Lithuanians; and having a more highly developed religion than either the pre-Christian Slavs or the Germans, their conversion was likely to be of a more difficult nature.At the end of the tenth and in the beginning of the thirteenth centuries attempts were made to convert the Prussians; but the only result was the death of the missionaries, who seem to have been too greatly filled with zeal to praise their own faith and throw contempt on that of the people among whom they were really only guests and sojourners.Finally, a man appeared more adroit and ambitious than others,--Christian, a monk of Olivka, near Dantzig. This monk, we are told, had a knowledge of the weak points of men, spoke Prussian as well as Polish, was not seeking the crown of martyrdom, and never made light of things held sacred by those to whom he was preaching. After a few years his success was such as to warrant a journey to Rome, where he explained to Innocent III. the results of his labor. The Pope encouraged the missionary, and in 1211 instructed the Archbishop of Gnez
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The Deluge- Volume 1

The Deluge- Volume 1

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

Split into two volumes due to length, this work is the sequel to With Fire and Sword, a massive book called one of the greatest in European literature. The Deluge continues the sweeping saga of war and rebellion that threatened the kingdom of Poland and changed the face of Eastern Europe in the 17th Century. This historical novel of Poland, Sweden and Russia, is a masterful blend of history and imagination, filled with nonstop action and adventure. Sienkiewicz's work is the sweeping saga of a nation caught in the throes of a civil war, of a people struggling for survival, and of events that forever changed the face of Eastern Europe. Number two in his trilogy on the history of Poland, it tells the love story of a man and a woman tragically separated by foolishness, pride, confusion and the Swedish invation of Poland in the 1500s which divided a nation against itself and drew the best and worst out of its citizens
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Fire in the Steppe

Fire in the Steppe

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

Close on the heels of the magnificent With Fire and Sword and The Deluge, comes this impassioned tale of love, war, heroism, treason and betrayal, with which the great classic Trilogy of Poland's most popular 19th century writer is brought to an end. Fire in the Steppe is the final book of Sienkiewicz's literary masterpiece which grips and enthralls just as powerfully today as it did when it was first published. It is an epic tale of love and adventure set in the savage wilderness of Poland's eastern borderlands in the 17th century, and it is also the most realistic of Sienkiewicz's novels. The Trilogy's most memorable heroes, Pan Zagloba and Pan Volodyovski, are joined here by the unforgettable Basia, whose own adventures ring with strength, courage and determination against the bloody background of raids, border battles, and invasion by the awesome armies of the Turkish Empire in 1672. Told by a master storyteller, Fire in the Steppe concludes the stories of the Trilogy's fabulous heroines and heroes who live, love and die in these pages of Poland's most enduring epic.
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W pustyni i w puszczy. English

W pustyni i w puszczy. English

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

In Desert and Wilderness (Polish: W Pustyni i w Puszczy) is a popular young adult novel by Nobel Prize-winning novelist Henryk Sienkiewicz, written in 1912. In Desert and Wilderness tells the story of two young friends, Stas Tarkowski and Nel Rawlison, kidnapped by rebels during Mahdi\'s rebellion in Sudan. W Pustyni i w Puszczy to popularna powieść dla dzieci i młodzieży autorstwa Henryka Sienkiewicza. Opowiada ona losy Stasia Tarkowskiego i Nel Rawlison, porwanych przez rebeliantów w Sudanie.Publikacja w dwóch wersjach językowych - po angielsku i po polsku.
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The Deluge- Volume 2

The Deluge- Volume 2

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

This is volume two of a two-volume work, the sequel to With Fire and Sword, a massive book called one of the greatest in European literature. Number two in his trilogy on the history of Poland, it tells the love story of a man and a woman tragically separated by foolishness, pride, confusion and the Swedish invation of Poland in the 1500s which divided a nation against itself and drew the best and worst out of its citizens.
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The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 2 (of 2)

The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 2 (of 2)

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

At a time when the state of Poland was constantly undergoing political turmoil, Henryk Sienkiewicz wasn’t afraid to ruffle feathers. Having already achieved success in his career around the end of the 19th century, the Polish journalist negatively portrayed the Teutonic Order at a time in which his audience lived under German rule. At the same time, he meticulously included historical language in his works, a sort of celebration of authenticity and the past. He would earn a Nobel Prize in 1905 for "outstanding merits as an epic writer." Sienkiewicz mastered historical novels that vividly put readers in places as distinct as 17th century Poland and Ancient Rome. He is still well regarded today for novels like With Fire and Sword, The Deluge, Quo Vadis, and Fire in the Steppe.  
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Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero

Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero, commonly known as Quo Vadis, is a historical novel written by Henryk Sienkiewicz. "Quo vadis Domine" is Latin for "Where are you going, Lord?" and alludes to the apocryphal Acts of Peter, in which Peter flees Rome but on his way meets Jesus and asks him why he is going to Rome. Jesus says, "I am going back to be crucified again", which makes Peter go back to Rome and accept martyrdom. The novel Quo Vadis tells of a love that develops between a young Christian woman, Ligia, and Marcus Vinicius, a Roman patrician. It takes place in the city of Rome under the rule of emperor Nero, c. AD 64. Sienkiewicz studied the Roman Empire extensively prior to writing the novel, with the aim of getting historical details correct. Consequently, several historical figures appear in the book. As a whole, the novel carries an outspoken pro-Christian message. Published in installments in three Polish dailies in 1895, it came out in book form in 1896 and has since been translated into more than 50 languages. Quo Vadis contributed to Sienkiewicz\'s Nobel Prize for literature in 1905. This book has a beautiful glossy cover and a blank page for the dedication.
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With Fire and Sword

With Fire and Sword

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

This vintage book contains Henryk Sienkiewicz's 1884 historical novel, "With Fire and Sword". It is set in the seventeenth century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the time of the Khmelnytsky Uprising, and presents real historical events interwoven with a fictional story. Many of the characters are actual historical figures, including Jeremi Wisniowiecki and Bohdan Khmelnytsky. "With Fire and Sword" was hugely popular in Poland and is arguably one of the most important Polish novels ever written. Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz (1846 - 1916) was a Polish novelist, journalist, and Nobel Prize laureate. He is most famous for his fantastic historical novels, namely the international best-seller "Quo Vadis" (1896). Other notable works by this author include "Without dogma" (1891) and "On the Field of Glory" (1906). Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive and we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition.
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Let us follow Him

Let us follow Him

Henryk Sienkiewicz

History / Historical Fiction

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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