"The Knights of the Cross, or Krzyzacy Historical Romance", by Henryk Sienkiewicz author of "Quo Vadis", translated into English by Samuel A. Binion, with 3-page translator's introduction "To the Reader" dated May 9, 1899. Published by R.F. Fenno & Co, New York, 1899; illustrated with frontispiece. Uncorrected first state with introduction pages numbered xxv-xxvii. First American edition, published the same year as the first Polish edition. [Fenno issued one single printing. In 1900 appeared first Little and Brown edition].

Hard boards, original publisher's gray cloth with a dark-gray knight on the front board, red lettering [very little soiling]; stamp of John Griff Edwards on the front endpaper and title page; frontispiece portrait of Henryk Sienkiewicz; 853 pages + 4 page publisher's ads, a little foxing, very good condition.

"Henryk Sienkiewicz is one of the great fiction writers. His 'Quo Vadis', is one of the best novels I have ever read, and The Knights of the Cross is not too far behind it. The characters are detailed, the plot has depth, and you're placed into a medieval Polish/Lithuanian/German history, which is quite fascinating." [from the private review].

The time and scene of the story are laid in the Middle Ages during the conquest of pagan Lithuania by the military and priestly order of the "Krzyzacy" Knights of the Cross [Teutonic Order]. The novel tells the story of a young nobleman, Zbyszko of Bogdaniec, who together with his uncle Maćko of Bogdaniec returns from the war against the Teutonic Order (Knights of the Cross) in nearby Lithuania. In a tavern inn Zbyszko falls in love with the lovely Danusia, who is traveling with the court of the Duchess Anna. He swears to her his knight's oath and promises to bring her "three trophies" from the Teutonic Knights...

Provenance:
From the library of John Griff Edwards, Portsmouth, Virginia.

John Griff Edwards (1870-1912) belonged to the old established settler family in Virginia. His father and uncles served in the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War. The grandfather, LeRoy Griffin Edwards (1804-1866), was the president of the Confederate Convention of 1864. John's wife, Mrs. J. Griff Edwards founded and led the first of the United Confederate Choirs of America (1907). After that she was elected the 'Commander in Chief of the United Confederate Choirs'. In 1911 she published a volume titled "Echoes From Dixie A Collection of Songs Used in the South."

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