The Diary of Miss Emma Holmes, 1861-1866 Book

This novel is the first in a trilogy which is so famous in its native Poland that it is simply called "The Trilogy," in much the same way that people often use "Tolkien" as shorthand for "The Lord of the Rings."

It is a sprawling patriotic epic. The first thing that struck me was the importance of nature. The first description in the book is that of the landscape of the Steppe. And it continues to be important, affecting the outcome of a battle here, obstructing a desperate search there, providing obstacles or helps to heroes and villains alike.

Some of the characters are a little too stereotypical for my liking. The hero, Pan Yan, becomes the Knight in Shining Armour for much of the novel. His leading lady, Princess Helen, becomes the Damsel in Distress. However they do acquire some depth as the plot goes forward.

The most interesting characters for me were the hero's three friends, Michal, Longinus and Zagloba. Pan Michal is at first portrayed as a would-be Lothario, but surprises everyone including the reader in battle. Pan Longinus, a sort of Don Quixote, is a gentle giant and the butt of everyone's jokes because he has made a vow of chastity until he can perform an unlikely act of heroism; he eventually accomplishes much more than that. Pan Zagloba starts out as the "bragging soldier" who is a stock figure in Roman comedy; he would rather feast, drink himself into a stupor and boast about largely imaginary exploits than participate in an actual combat. But he surprised me by becoming the most likeable member of the whole cast.

All this transpires against a backdrop of bloody battles, political intrigue and "hair-breadth 'scapes." An unforgettable read, even if it's a very long one.