The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 1

"The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 1." by Henryk Sienkiewicz tells of a noble family and a land at war. Set in the 1600s during conflicts involving Poland, Sweden, and Russia, the story centers on the Billeviches, especially young Andrei Kmita in a world of love, honor, and war. The Billevich family is a noble family that holds a high place in Poland, but as military conflict arises, they are challenged. After the family patriarch, Heraclius Billevich, passes away, the focus turns to Kmita, the young heir to the family, who is faced with the pressures of societal duty. The story follows the complicated relationships between the nobility, the growing military conflicts, and the beginning romance between Kmita and Aleksandra, the granddaughter of Billevich.