Customer Reviews

The Teutonic Knights

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book was written in 1900. It took the author over four years to write it. I advise anyone interested in literature, not just historical novels, to get this book. It is a monument of extraordinary literature. It is written sharp as a diamond, and throughout the 800 pages, there is no boring paragraph to be found. The plot is so well thought-out that you will be amazed. The last words of the author in the book are "So to you, sacred past, and to you, sacrificial blood, be praise and honor for ever and ever." Not only do you get a great account of life in the middle ages, but also a detailed and fascinating tale of many memorable characters and their adventures. After you read this, I STRONGLY recommend the trilogy. "With Fire and Sword" is a very different book, but just as good, if not better, than this one. "The Deluge" is a very long book: 1800 pages. But don't let that scare you away -- just like "Teutonic Knights," every page is fascinating. And the last volume of the trilogy is "Fire in the Steppe." Right now, Amazon.com is offering the latter two. Get them. It's worth it. "With Fire and Sword" is not available through amazon.com, though, unless you want to get a used one. You might want to try doing it directly through the publisher, Hippocrene books. Once again, for anyone who loves to read, I recommend all four of these books and all of Sienkiewicz's books. Don't let the long name scare you away. In my opinion, he is the greatest author of all time.

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.

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.

I read this book before the "trilogy." I found it very dark and stoic, especially when compared with the next Sienkiewicz book I read, "With Fire and Sword." Unlike WFS, it is impossible to like anything about the villains in this story, the Teutonic Knights. For fans of the Teutonic Knights, they are not painted in a very flattering light, so don't buy this book thinking you are going to get a positive perspective on them. For Poles and Lithuanians, it portrays a complex struggle against a well-armed and aggressive neighbor. This struggle ultimately pits a Christian, Moslem, and Pagan coalition of nations against the Teutonic Knights, a multinational Christian force on a "mission from God". A collection of fictional characters interact with actual people and events that surrounded this historical struggle. Some of the themes include duty, honor, sacrifice, vengeance, and forgiveness. I find these characters much darker and more tragic than those of Sienkiewicz's trilogy and I think you can definitely get a feeling of the mistrust between the Poles and the Germans (at least in Sienkiewicz's perspective). In fact some of the parallels between this story, written at the turn of the IX/XX century, and the actual events that unfolded in WWII are actually pretty startling. This is a good book for those who want to get a flavor for XV and early XVI century Polish Commonwealth history, but I would recommend reading the trilogy first.

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...

Frankly, a bit of a disappointment: a good novel let down by a clunky translation.

Sienkiewicz was writing during the 19h. century, when Poland as an independent state did not exist, and consequently Polish art and literature of this period has a heavy nationalistic tone. The plot, a love story set against the medieval Polish Commonwealth's struggle against the Teutonic knights and culminating in the titanic battle of Grunwald (if you're Polish)/ Tannenberg (if you're not), is tight and well plotted; the characterisation tends to be on the basis that each character has a pet quirk rather than anything deeper, but the story rattles along satisfyingly, regardless.

Sienkiewicz is noted for his elegant Polish, and unfortunately this aspect of his work has not survived the rather brutal translation. There are constant jarring notes as peculiar and obsolete words suddenly ambush the reader, interrupting the flow of the novel. And this is apparently the best translation available.

The pictures advertised as being at the back of the novel are there, but are pretty worthless; they are not on art or photographic paper and look more like photocopies. There are no illustrations within the text (as you might be led to believe).

Translation: *** Novel: ***** Overall: ****

"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.

The sheer volume of this book was in itself discouraging. The amount of information contained in this book was just staggering. It really took an effort to remember the name of each character, the name of the towns they visited and to follow the intricate plot as the story unfolds in the chaos created by the Teutonic Knights in Central and Eastern Europe.

It was all well worth the effort, even when I think how I carried this hefty book with me everywhere I went for nearly a month.
The cast of characters are memorable as the book itself: Jurand, who swears revenge, Danusia, the innocent damsel, Jagienka the feisty virago, Hlawa, the noble squire, and Tougay Bey, the merciless Tartar warchief, just to mention a few.

I know I read a translation. Usually W.S. Kuniczak translates Sienkiewicz's books, but Alicia Tyszkiewicz did an excellent job in translating this lenghtly book and in doing so, she rendered a story in a style worthy of the Polish Laureate, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905.

Through Sienkiewicz we feel the courage of the Polish people. A country ravaged by wars, and several invasions, coveted by neighbors, and fiercely defended by her children, the spirit of Poland lives through Sienkiewicz novels

In my opinion, Henryk Sienkiewcz is one of Europe's greatest writers. "Teutonic Knights", "With Fire and Sword" and "Quo Vadis?" are among the best novels I have ever read from a Polish author, and maybe, the best novels written in the 20th century!

One of the best books written by Sienkiewicz. Noble prize in literature was awarded to Sienkiewicz for Quo Vadis, however his best work belongs to Polish history in 15th and 17th century. "The Teutonic Knights" is a good start and Trilogy makes fine end. A must read for fans of European history.

I stumbled on this book quite by accident, with no idea who Sienkiewicz was. What a great thing to stumble upon!
I'm a great fan of Walter Scott, and considered this very much in the same vein, a terrific adventure story with heroes and villains, although paced faster than Scott. Particularly, the first 500 pages or so of this big book move very quickly, the events leading compellingly onward through the narrative almost breathlessly.
The historical context of the book (Poles v. Germans) is interesting to note. Taking the book in the context of the development of the novel---well, Sienkiewicz isn't particularly interested in the psychology of his characters. The bad guys here are reeeeallly bad. The hero is not only good, he's unbearably handsome, too. But this is an exciting book and I will read more of this guy now that I've found him.