Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by hebelehoo
Fire in the Steppe by Henryk Sienkiewicz
3.0
Not as bad as the second book in the trilogy, but a mixed bag for me. Especially the ending was very very weird. I do not know almost anything about Jerzy Wolodyowski who was the historical inspiration of Michael Wolodyowski but I really doubt that he killed himself just because they surrendered Kamenyets. I didn't like the "romance" section of the book either, Basia was especially annoying af.
So yeah, I read The Trilogy and while it is somewhat informative historically I just have a bad taste in my mouth because of almost neverending xenophobia going on in the books. And yes, it is partially understandable when you write about a country that is invaded by its neighbours left and right, then eventually partitioned as if it's a piece of meat. But I cannot personally accept valorization of murdering "heretical" or "pagan" people. I am not saying that I wish I had not read this trilogy but I wish I had not known Sienkiewicz could've glorified an asshole like Kmita to this extent. Author was almost cheering from background while Kmita let loose his Tartar soldiers (who happen to be "pagan" muslims by the way) on Christian peasants who do not happen to be Catholic. Maybe I am looking at a 19th century book from a 21st century viewpoint way too much, I don't know. Nonetheless, I just want to wish that this line of thinking was or should've been unacceptable even way back then.
So yeah, I read The Trilogy and while it is somewhat informative historically I just have a bad taste in my mouth because of almost neverending xenophobia going on in the books. And yes, it is partially understandable when you write about a country that is invaded by its neighbours left and right, then eventually partitioned as if it's a piece of meat. But I cannot personally accept valorization of murdering "heretical" or "pagan" people. I am not saying that I wish I had not read this trilogy but I wish I had not known Sienkiewicz could've glorified an asshole like Kmita to this extent. Author was almost cheering from background while Kmita let loose his Tartar soldiers (who happen to be "pagan" muslims by the way) on Christian peasants who do not happen to be Catholic. Maybe I am looking at a 19th century book from a 21st century viewpoint way too much, I don't know. Nonetheless, I just want to wish that this line of thinking was or should've been unacceptable even way back then.