Customer Reviews

Fire In The Steppe

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book can only have its strongest impact if you've read the first two books of the Trilogy first. I can't say more about the shock of the ending without giving the plot away entirely, but, having all of the strengths of the first two novels -- historical accuracy, epic story-telling style, characters who, fictional or historical, are alike human and complex, deep sense of the vagaries of religious belief, the occasional touch of humor and love-stories on the Great Romance scale -- it is really this one, where the diminutive Pan Michal finally finds love and Poland finds its long home, that truly rocks the reader's soul.

I still get a feeling in my gut when I remember finishing this book. It is that good and that powerful. The characters are easy to get attached to -- and like many 19th century novels the author is not sparring in playing his reader's emotions. This is a worthy culmination to an amazing set of books (starting with "With Fire & Sword"). While no book is for everyone, I have recommended this series to a diverse group of friends and family members and always been thanked for doing so. There is romance, drama, and action all rolled up into a real page turner.
If you are reading this review, my guess is you have not read the first two parts of this series or else you would be hooked by now. If that is the case, track down a copy of With Fire & Sword and start there. You will not be disappointed.

If you like history and epic stories (Dumas, Walter Scott), then "The trilogy" (this being the third book after "Fire & Sword" and "Deluge") is definitely a must-read - great story, battles, romance are all there and even though the events that are covered in the trilogy are probably unfamiliar to most US readers, that should not detract from enjoyment.
As many other people said, this is an abashedly partisan view of history, from one side only and you should not try to use this book as your guide to Eastern European history. I don't see that being a problem for a fiction novel, though.

The translation, I thought, was decent but definitely less than perfect and the cutting out of epilogue is really just too bad

I am not Polish or of Polish descent nor does one have to be to read and enjoy these masterpieces.

I could not put down any of the books in this series. The heroes, the villians and the women were enthralling. I particularly enjoyed the Catholic Christian aspect of the books and the importance of the spiritual to the soldiers involved. I would most highly recommend Sienkiewicz to any person who loves adventure, fidelity and God.

Like the other two books in the trilogy, this is a sweeping epic. The characters (many of them drawn from Polish legend) are extremely compelling and despite it's 1000 plus pages, the book reads like the wind. You are thrown from one adventure to the next. A must read for anyone who likes swashbuckling, war, history or lovestories. It's all in there. I definitely recommend reading the earlier books in the series. However, the book stands on its own.

Without reciting the book cover, this book and the trilogy it came from is one of the finest pieces of literature ever created. It is easy to quickly consume and dispose of a Steven King novel or any in the popular genre, but the skillful crafting or characters and fascinating plot in Sienkiewicz trilogy deserves the respect and admiration of any one who claims to love literature.

I suggest it strongly. Reading it was a life changing experience for me. Consistent with the theme, it truly "uplifts the hearts." Of the Polish nation and now with the masterful translation by Kuniczak, a young man in the United States too!

Though many Poles recognize the book as one of the best in Polish literature, I would not recomend it, especially if somebody wants to learn something about Polish history. The book terribly falsifies the history and it made a lot of harm, especially in the case of contacts between Poles and Ukrainians. The book is not only ahistorical, though it pretends to describe actual events. If we get rid of the falsified background, the remaining part is a 19th-century romance that is simply not exciting at all.

As a young girl in Poland I must have read all of Sienkiewicz's books many many times. They are well written, interesting and deal very well with the topics at hand. This edition is well made and the translation is good (although nothing beats reading it in Polish!) I would recommend this book for anyone who wishes to be engulfed in a powerful story of loyalty, patriotism, courage and love. Definitely two thumbs up!!!

My mother got these books for me about 4 years ago. Both my parents are from Poland so of course both of them had read the series when they were young. She felt that I should know about the history of Poland as well. I was completely overwhelmed by the books. I read the entire series practically non-stop. All million pages of it. I can't even describe the feeling I get when I think about Pan Skshetuski and Pan Volodoyovski. The books are truly the best books I have ever read.

I was spellbound by this book. A great historical epic which conveys the horror of the 17th century Cossack rebellion in Poland. No wonder the author won the Nobel prize. Ask any one from Poland who the author is. He's there equivalent of Dumas, Dickens or Victor Hugo.