With Fire and Sword

A sweeping historical adventure set in seventeenth-century Poland-Lithuania, With Fire and Sword tells the story of a young officer, Pan Yan Skshetuski, who is caught up in a vast Cossack uprising led by Bohdan Hmelnitski. As war engulfs the steppes of the Ukraine, Skshetuski must fight for his country, his honor, and his love for Helena, a woman pursued by the fierce Cossack colonel Bogun. Alongside memorable companions like the boastful Zagloba and the giant Podbipienta, he lives through capture, defeats, a desperate search for Helena and the great siege of Zbaraj.

Written by Nobel laureate Henryk Sienkiewicz and first published in 1884, this novel blends real history with thrilling fiction. It offers vivid battle scenes, moments of humor, and a moving portrait of loyalty and courage. Readers who enjoy epic tales such as The Three Musketeers or War and Peace will find much to admire here, as will anyone interested in Polish history and the clash of cultures on the eastern frontier.

This edition contains the complete text in the classic translation by Jeremiah Curtin, with his introduction and notes, a new introduction, a character guide, a summary of the plot, a thematic overview, a glossary of historical and period terms, and discussion questions for readers and book clubs.