Pan Michael

Pan Michael (also known as Fire in the Steppe) is an historical novel by Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz. The third and final book in The Trilogy focuses on the character of Pan Michael Volodyovski, a Polish nobleman and veteran soldier. After enduring intense periods of war, the Polish Commonwealth experiences a moment of peace, which grants freedom to Pan Michael, one of its greatest heroes, to wed his beloved Anna Borzobogati. However, tragedy strikes when she falls ill and passes away, leaving Michael consumed by despair and leading him to join a monastery. This loss of the renowned knight leaves the Commonwealth vulnerable, prompting his friends to devise a plan to bring him back to his true calling. Pan Michael, much like other characters in the Trilogy, is a fictional figure who draws heavily from historical sources. Jerzy Wołodyjowski, a real-life Polish knight who served in Jan Sobieski’s cavalry, serves as a significant inspiration for Michael's character and circumstances.

This book has 204,292 words, and was originally published in 1887. This translation by Jeremiah Curtin was first published in 1893.