The Deluge Volume 1
Henryk Sienkiewicz
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
The Deluge (Polish: Potop) is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1886. It is the second volume of a three-volume series known to Poles as "the Trilogy," having been preceded by With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i mieczem, 1884) and followed by Fire in the Steppe (Pan Wołodyjowski, 1886). The novel tells a story of a fictional Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth soldier and noble Andrzej Kmicic and shows a panorama of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Swedish invasion of Poland known in the Polish tradtion as „Potop” (hence the title).
Kmita is a patriot who, nevertheless, unexpectedly and unwittingly finds himself on the wrong side of the conflict as a new war starts to ravage the already weakened Commonwealth. This decision costs him dearly as his beloved Olenka now sees him as a traitor.
This is an epic panorama of a country that is torn not only by a war with the external enemy, but also by a struggle with unscrupulous nobles who use their country's plight as an opportunity to magnify their power and zone of influence even if that means siding with the enemy. On the other hand we also see valiant soldiers, who, both with their swords and their wits, fight to expel the invading army. (Summary by Wikipedia and Piotr Nater) (23 hr 56 min)
Chapters
Introduction and Personages | 26:41 | Read by Piotr Nater |
Chapter I | 16:20 | Read by Piotr Nater |
Chapter II | 47:28 | Read by Lucretia B. |
Chapter III | 14:33 | Read by Theodulf |
Chapter IV | 23:12 | Read by Theodulf |
Chapter V | 36:21 | Read by Theodulf |
Chapter VI | 38:12 | Read by Rapunzelina |
Chapter VII | 22:45 | Read by Rapunzelina |
Chapter VIII part 1 | 26:17 | Read by KHand |
Chapter VIII part 2 | 21:20 | Read by KHand |
Chapter IX | 47:05 | Read by Dorothy Godfrey-Smith |
Chapter X | 15:19 | Read by Piotr Nater |
Chapter XI part 1 | 26:59 | Read by Piotr Nater |
Chapter XI part 2 | 28:47 | Read by Piotr Nater |
Chapter XI part 3 | 27:54 | Read by Piotr Nater |
Chapter XII | 30:47 | Read by eagee |
Chapter XIII part 1 | 45:21 | Read by eagee |
Chapter XIII part 2 | 39:17 | Read by eagee |
Chapter XIV part 1 | 29:56 | Read by Rapunzelina |
Chapter XIV part 2 | 29:00 | Read by Rapunzelina |
Chapter XV | 29:49 | Read by Lynne T |
Chapter XVI | 20:12 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XVII | 16:35 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XVIII part 1 | 32:35 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XVIII part 2 | 32:01 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XIX | 19:44 | Read by Piotr Nater |
Chapter XX | 22:56 | Read by Lynne T |
Chapter XXI | 40:24 | Read by Lynne T |
Chapter XXII | 19:44 | Read by Lynne T |
Chapter XXIII | 24:49 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XXIV | 27:48 | Read by Rapunzelina |
Chapter XXV | 17:53 | Read by Rapunzelina |
Chapter XXVI part 1 | 37:04 | Read by eagee |
Chapter XXVI part 2 | 35:25 | Read by eagee |
Chapter XXVII | 30:49 | Read by eagee |
Chapter XXVIII | 39:06 | Read by eagee |
Chapter XXIX | 38:30 | Read by eagee |
Chapter XXX | 17:49 | Read by LindaB |
Chapter XXXI part 1 | 23:35 | Read by Joanna Dębicka |
Chapter XXXI part 2 | 21:39 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XXXII | 20:06 | Read by Anna Simon |
Chapter XXXIII part 1 | 30:18 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XXXIII part 2 | 24:17 | Read by Rapunzelina |
Chapter XXXIV | 22:20 | Read by Rapunzelina |
Chapter XXXV | 24:59 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XXXVI | 29:41 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XXXVII | 23:24 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XXXVIII | 30:01 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XXXIX | 25:30 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XL | 33:41 | Read by KHand |
Chapter XLI | 30:12 | Read by KHand |
Reviews
Wish they had volume 2
Adam P
I concur with the previous reviewer. I am immensely grateful for all the time and effort volunteers put into reading, but at a couple points I had to stop listening and just read the pdf of the book, then pick up where other readers resumed. I wish volume 2 were available, because I’d listen to it in a heartbeat. These last chapters are absolutely amazing. Just grin and bear it when the difficult recording(s) come(s) along. The siege at the end is worth it! Plus meeting up with characters from the first book feels like reuniting with old friends.
Stephen Lowe
not finished but great story being destroyed by poor reading from someone whose third, fourth or maybe fifth language is English. what a shame. turned down playbook speed, helped somewhat but resulted in a huge headache. ugh. Most readers are very good but it takes only one to ruin the whole experience. up dated....original rating was one star due to one reader but upon completion of book 1,I beg forgiveness...chapters 39 til the end more than made up for it...a book that became majestic and almost supernatural. Grateful for all readers but especially KHand. Tears arrived in Chapter 39...not for sadness but for beauty.