The Teutonic Knights

"The Trilogy" (i.e., With Fire & Sword, etc.) is better, but it is hard to compare anything with those amazing books. While anyone wishing to sample this author should start there, Teutonic Knights is was a great read in its own right. As usual with Sienkiewicz, there are sweeping plot lines and larger than life characters, plus some nail bitting sections of high drama. Sure in a couple of places it gets slow (mainly because he has left one plot line hanging to return to less dramatic events confronting another character), but in general I plowed through this and wished there was more.

I found this book while doing research on the Teutonic Knights because I enjoy writing fantasy based on medieval themes and I'm planning to visit their old castle at Malbork. Instead of a reference book I found something better--an excellent look at what life was like in medieval Poland, chivalry, and how religion fit into the lives of those noble people.If you're looking for something with a lot of blood and guts then don't buy this book. It may have some interesting fight scenes but what makes it great is the interaction between the characters. Courtly love is vividly portrayed as well as the relationship between lord/lady and vassel. The integrity of certain knights in contrast to the corruption of others gives the story a sense of realism.The only gripe I had was due to not being able to pronounce some of the Polish names. I wish the translator included a pronounciation guide for laymen like myself. However this doesn't diminish from the five star rating.I can't wait to read more titles by this author.

This is by far the best novel that I ever read,a compelling and fascinating masterpiece above literature that only Tolstoy's "War and Peace" is equal of.Even "Quo Vadis" is the most famous book of Sienkiewicz,here is proved to be more mature and describes with a perfect and understandable way,a combination of love,romance,battles,intriques,suspence,drama.All the characters are easy to be understood,interesting and you can feel them easily.Sienkiewicz manages in general in every of his books,that every page not to be boring at all and the analysis of his characters and places have some limits,so as not to tire the reader.Worth also is to be mentioned that while other famous authors of Sienkiewicz's time,wrote about their time/era..Sienkiewicz chose the difficult way to bring us with amazing detail,the Roman time,Medieval time and also the 17th century...Only Sienkiewicz could accomplish to write books about previous times,with such wonderful way.I recommend you to read all the books by Sienkiewicz,especially "The Teutonic Knights" which has many messages I believe...in our days we have lost our honour and pride...we must remeber again these gifts and be better humans...

I read the Teutonic Knights after Sienkiewicz' famous trilogy on Poland which begins with his With Fire and Sword (much recommneded). I thought I would not, could not, find heroes as great as those I found there. As happened each time I finished a volume of the trilogy, I found I was mistaken, and on the same account. Sienkiewicz, a master at creating truly human and noble heroes in tough historical times, did it again. He once again created another hero and befriended me to him to the point where I admired him like one admires a great and faithful friend. I found myself adding him to the company of the likes of Pan Schetushki, Kmita and Volodyovski (see the Trilogy). If you have been told about the trilogy and do not dare undertake 4,000 pages of great reading, start with the Teutonic Knights. It will introduce you to Sienkiewicz and whet your appetite for more...If only for its most interesting historical context, and to learn about Poland's (or rather Lithuania's) view of itself and Germany, you should read this book. It will explain much of what happened in later centuries between both countries. If only because it is a literary masterpiece, you should read this book. If only because it is hard to find truly romantic novels nowadays, with real virtues and real values, and real lovers not centered on their eros but on real love, you should read this book. If all else fails, you should read it because it will unlock the mistery of a most beautiful equestrian statue placed on the center of Central Park in Manhattan (close to the "castle") of a Polish king, who is famous for defeating the Teutonic Knights and all they represented. When you finish this book, you will wonder why you did not know about it before. You will treasure it for your children.