_(title_page).jpg) Title page of an 1885 edition | |
| Author | Henryk Sienkiewicz |
|---|---|
| Original title | Ogniem i mieczem |
| Language | Polish |
| Series | The Trilogy[citation needed] |
| Genre | Historical novel |
Publication date | 1884 |
| Publication place | Poland |
| Followed by | The Deluge |
By Fire and Sword (Polish: Ogniem i mieczem) is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1884. It is the first volume of a series known to Poles as The Trilogy, followed by The Deluge (Potop, 1886) and Fire in the Steppe (originally published under the Polish title Pan Wołodyjowski, which translates to Lord Wolodyjowski). The novel has been adapted as a film several times, most recently in 1999.
By Fire and Sword is a historical fiction novel, set in the 17th century in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Khmelnytsky Uprising. It was initially serialized in several Polish newspapers, chapters appearing in weekly installments. It gained enormous popularity in Poland, and by the turn of the 20th century had become one of the most popular Polish books ever. It became obligatory reading in Polish schools, and has been translated into English and most European languages.
The series was a vehicle for expressing Polish patriotism in a Poland partitioned and deprived of independence.