The Teutonic Knights

Historical novel about the age of knights. It's relatively fast pacing and interesting but I have a feeling that I would've enjoyed it much more in my teenage years. Now the dated look of life, glorification of war, the blind faith infiltrating the everyday life and treating women as second rate beings just alienating me.

This book was a major disappointment. I am a big fan of Sienkiewicz's Trilogy and was excited about the prospect of reading this book which was reputed to be his masterpiece. The plot was plodding and dull and the characters were universally unappealing. The main character was an unattractive humorless numb-skull.

The book abounded in the colorful descriptions of medieval life in Poland which make Sienkiewicz's books so readable. Plus, there is plenty of interesting historical stuff that you didn't know about. However, long descriptions of the scenery were clouded by the knowledge that Sienkiewicz never saw Poland and was mostly making that stuff up. Makes you wonder about how much of the other stuff he made up. But his descriptions of show more the clothing and customs? I don't think you can make that stuff up, I love it.

My biggest disappointment was the almost total lack of humor. The Trilogy has tons of very funny laugh-out-loud dialogue, characters, and situations. I don't think I so much as chuckled through TTK.

One final point n the book's favor - there are some interesting and strong women in this story who are more than just decoration or baby boy generators (plenty of that, though. Seems like manly men only have male offspring, makes you wonder where the women come from.). They actually play important roles and exert influence in the events.

This book is only for die hard fans. show less

this has to be my favorite book of all time. the main characters are two Polish warriors - one a knight, the other his nephew and squire. so was taken a little by surprise as i read the story since the Teutonic Knights in the title were more a supporting character group.

the tale proceeds more as the Polish knights, and the knights of other countries they come across, interact with and against the Teutonic Order messing around in Poland & Lithuania in the 14th Century.

the writing was well done - imagery waas breathe-taking, action was fierce and fluid, the characters were spot on - the "good guys" were likable, the bad guys were bastards and the few that fence-sat or switched sides believably did so.

i can't rave enough about this book! show more but realize it was written in a time and place where authors recieved a price per page. every page was worth it, but it will take you a while to get through. and DON'T drop it on your foot, even in a paperback edition: it's a hefty tome! show less

One of the classical 19th c. Polish novels. Set in the beginning of the 15th century the book tells a story of Polish knights - Maćko and Zbyszko z Bogdańca. It follows their quest to find Zbyszko's fiancee abducted by Teutonic Knights while the surrounding world prepares for a war between Polish Kingdom and Great Duchy of Lithuania against the Teutonic Order. A great epic novel.

One of the excellent epic historical novels by this author, of the great European upheavals that centered around Poland during the time of chivalry.

Not very good, perhaps, but I very much enjoyed it.