Good vigorous adventure, though with a tragic ending. By objective modern standards, unduly hostile to Jews and Poles. ( )

Nikolai Gogol is an enabler, and Taras Bulba is an enabling act. Are the Poles stupid? Yes they are, and considering this was written after the Tsar had completely subdued their shit, that is reprehensible. Are the Jews greedy? Natch, although they do help Taras Bulba out a bit, to be fair. Are the Turks heathen filth? They are in 1500, so in 1835, encroach, encroach, encroach. Are the Cossacks mighty and blameless, except for living in violent times? They are, and the Russian Tsar will rule the earth, and I haven't read Dead Souls but judging from this book Gogol is a total sycophantic suck.

On the other hand: Medieval Russian cowboys. Theme RPG waiting to happen. Especially keeping in mind that last story, "Vengeance" whatever. ( )

“The governor has a beautiful daughter. Holy God, what a beauty!”

The Jew tried as hard as he could to convey her beauty, stretching his arms out wide, narrowing his eyes into a squint, and puckering his lips as if he were about to taste a most delicate morsel.

“What’s that got to do with it?”

“It is for her that he’s done this. He went over to them because of her. When a man falls in love, he becomes like the waterlogged sole of a shoe - you can bend it any way you want.”

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Great descriptions peppered with subtle humor by Gogol, from Taras Bulba.

This was an exciting little book filled with torture, mass killings, vengeance, love, faith, and devotion... you cannot extinguish the Cossack soul. I highly recommend spending an afternoon with Bulba. ( )