Fire in the Steppe
| Author | Henryk Sienkiewicz |
|---|---|
| Original title | Pan Wołodyjowski |
| Country | Poland |
| Language | Polish |
| Series | The Trilogy |
| Genre | Historical novel |
|
Publication date
|
1888 |
| Preceded by | With Fire and Sword, The Deluge |
Fire in the Steppe (Polish: Pan Wołodyjowski; also translated into English as Sir Michael and Colonel Wolodyjowski; literally, Sir Wołodyjowski) is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1888. It is the third volume in a series known to Poles as "The Trilogy", being preceded by With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i mieczem, 1884) and The Deluge (Potop, 1886). The novel's protagonist is Michał Wołodyjowski.
Chapters 1 – 5
Michael Volodyovski has retired to a monastery after the death of his wife, Anna Borzobogati. At . Kharlamp, an acquaintance, goes to see Andrei Kmita to get his help in persuading him to leave it. He and Zagloba make a journey to consult Yan and it is finally Zagloba who offers to speak to Volodyovski.
Making his way to Warsaw, Zagloba meets his old friend, Hassling-Ketling, a Scot, who now resides in Warsaw after being adopted by a noble in Svyenta in Courland, who offers him a bed. Taking place is the Diet to elect a new King of which Prince Boguslav is a candidate and Zagloba is determined to raise support against the traitor.
Chapters 6 – 16
Zagloba carries a letter from the primate to the monastery of Mons Regius. Michael is now known as Brother Yerzy and is persuaded to leave for the nation’s sake and stays at Ketling’s house. They are visited by Sobieski, the hetman, and a feast takes place and Michael receives a present of a cream-coloured steed.
Michael’s sister, Mrs Makovetski, visits Warsaw and is invited to stay with Krystina Drohoyovski and Barbara Yezorkovski, of whom her husband is their guardian. Michael is immediately attracted by Krysia but Zagloba intends that Basia, who delights him, should be the little knight’s. He teaches her fencing and she is disconcerted and embarrassed by his adeptness with the sword for whom she develops a strong admiration. Adam Novoveski, a young cavalier, arrives on the scene and pays court to Basia but she has nothing of it and rejects his eventual marriage proposal.
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