The Deluge Volume 1


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(3.8 stars; 14 reviews)

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


(4 stars)

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.


(4 stars)

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.