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The Little Trilogy
In a new translation by Miroslaw Lipinski, 'The Little Trilogy' contains everything readers have come to expect of the celebrated Sienkiewicz - charming and alluring characters, romance, heartbreak, action and adventure, humor and bravery. Set against the breathtaking panorama of the Polish countryside and the French wilderness, 'The Little Trilogy' follows the volatile friendship between Selim Mirza, a Polonized Tartar, and Henryk, a character based on Sienkiewicz himself. These close friends share confidences and dreams, court the same beautiful girl, and ultimately fight side by side in the Franco-Prussian War in an army unit full of dangerous ruffians and bandits.
245 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1876
57 people want to read
About the author
Henryk Sienkiewicz
1,390 books715 followersHenryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz (also known as "Litwos"; May 5, 1846–November 15, 1916) was a Polish journalist and Nobel Prize-winning novelist. He was one of the most popular Polish writers at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905 for his "outstanding merits as an epic writer."
Born into an impoverished gentry family in the Podlasie village of Wola Okrzejska, in Russian-ruled Poland, Sienkiewicz wrote historical novels set during the Rzeczpospolita (Polish Republic, or Commonwealth). His works were noted for their negative portrayal of the Teutonic Order in The Teutonic Knights (Krzyżacy), which was remarkable as a significant portion of his readership lived under German rule. Many of his novels were first serialized in newspapers, and even today are still in print. In Poland, he is best known for his historical novels "With Fire and Sword", "The Deluge", and "Fire in the Steppe" (The Trilogy) set during the 17th-century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, while internationally he is best known for Quo Vadis, set in Nero's Rome. Quo Vadis has been filmed several times, most notably the 1951 version.
Sienkiewicz was meticulous in attempting to recreate the authenticity of historical language. In his Trilogy, for instance, he had his characters use the Polish language as he imagined it was spoken in the seventeenth century (in reality it was far more similar to 19th-century Polish than he imagined). In The Teutonic Knights, which relates to the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, he even had his characters speak a variety of medieval Polish which he recreated in part from archaic expressions then still common among the highlanders of Podhale.
In 1881, Sienkiewicz married Maria Szetkiewicz (1854-1885). They had two children, Henryk Józef (1882-1959) and Jadwiga Maria (1883–1969).
Born into an impoverished gentry family in the Podlasie village of Wola Okrzejska, in Russian-ruled Poland, Sienkiewicz wrote historical novels set during the Rzeczpospolita (Polish Republic, or Commonwealth). His works were noted for their negative portrayal of the Teutonic Order in The Teutonic Knights (Krzyżacy), which was remarkable as a significant portion of his readership lived under German rule. Many of his novels were first serialized in newspapers, and even today are still in print. In Poland, he is best known for his historical novels "With Fire and Sword", "The Deluge", and "Fire in the Steppe" (The Trilogy) set during the 17th-century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, while internationally he is best known for Quo Vadis, set in Nero's Rome. Quo Vadis has been filmed several times, most notably the 1951 version.
Sienkiewicz was meticulous in attempting to recreate the authenticity of historical language. In his Trilogy, for instance, he had his characters use the Polish language as he imagined it was spoken in the seventeenth century (in reality it was far more similar to 19th-century Polish than he imagined). In The Teutonic Knights, which relates to the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, he even had his characters speak a variety of medieval Polish which he recreated in part from archaic expressions then still common among the highlanders of Podhale.
In 1881, Sienkiewicz married Maria Szetkiewicz (1854-1885). They had two children, Henryk Józef (1882-1959) and Jadwiga Maria (1883–1969).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 6, 2015
Though called The Little Trilogy the entire work reads more like a small novel. Each piece can stand alone I suppose but work better as parts of the greater whole.
The development of the two main characters, Henryk (the narrator) and Selim was well played over the whole but I think they still left Henryk as the star.
The final piece Selim Mirza, has left me wanting to read and research more about the Franco-Prussian War, especially as a wargaming endeavor.
The development of the two main characters, Henryk (the narrator) and Selim was well played over the whole but I think they still left Henryk as the star.
The final piece Selim Mirza, has left me wanting to read and research more about the Franco-Prussian War, especially as a wargaming endeavor.
April 9, 2020
Boy did this one ever go sideways. 'Twas a tale of two halves, the first being brilliant the second was totally pear-shaped. In NFL terms, this would be your 2019 New England Patriots. The Little Trilogy....three stars.
August 17, 2025
The first two stories (The Old Servant, and Hania) are really good. In Hania you see Sienkiewicz at his full genius.
The last of the three tales (Selim Mirza) is not bad, but not as good as the first two.
Overall, a very good trilogy.
The last of the three tales (Selim Mirza) is not bad, but not as good as the first two.
Overall, a very good trilogy.
March 3, 2019
Henryk Sienkiewicz writes so beautifully, it’s hard not to enjoy his work. These three stories, all related to one another, are worth a read. I especially enjoyed the “Hania.”
January 12, 2012
Three short stories all related - the best is Hania. Friendship, coming of age, virtues, vices and violence.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews