Character guide

Pan Michael Volodyovski

major

Also known as Michael, Pan Volodyovski, Volodyovski, Pan Michael

Volodyovski is the little knight whose name commands respect across the Commonwealth, a veteran of the Ukrainian wars, the Crimea, and the king's cause. He has delayed marriage to Panna Anna for years, choosing the frontier over private happiness, and the strain shows in a man who is squeamish about honor and haunted by the memory of a dead love. His arrival at the Kmitas' home sets the romantic machinery of the novel turning, for his presence stirs hearts he does not intend to stir.

Basia Volodyovski

major

Also known as Panna Basia, Basia, Pan Rushchyts, Rushchyts

Basia is the youngest in the household, quick to anger and quicker to laugh, riding ahead of the company and pressing her nose to foreign goods in the shops. She spars with Pan Michael, resents being handled as a child, and nurses a curiosity about pelicans and bustards that masks deeper feelings. Her impulsive warmth and refusal to be overlooked make her a live wire in the quiet tensions gathering around the Volodyovski marriage.

Pan Zagloba

major

Also known as Zagloba, old Zagloba, Gracious Pan Zagloba

Zagloba is the veteran schemer and storyteller whose advice steers Pan Michael's tangled affections, though he is not above enjoying the spectacle. He sees what others miss—Krysia's sadness, Michael's whirlwind nature—and, being tender underneath the bluster, goes to stroke her hair when she is grieving. His running commentary and long memory of old feuds give the household its comic and moral weather.

Krysia Ketling

supporting

Also known as Panna Krysia, Krysia, Krysia Ketling

Krysia is the mild-eyed maiden bound by an old promise to Pan Michael, yet drawn with growing delight to Ketling's noble face and quiet company. Her heart divides between duty, shame, and a love she cannot name, and she suffers the difference between kissing from great love and kissing from impulse of blood. Her inward struggle over loyalty and desire gives the novel's romantic thread its ache and its stakes.

Captain Ketling

supporting

Also known as Ketling, Fortunate Ketling, the astonished Ketling

Ketling is the handsome, liberal captain who rode stirrup to stirrup with Pan Michael and shares with him a friendship so close the army named him Michael's wife. He loves Krysia quietly, showing her the king's castle and speaking with his eyes what he dares not say aloud. His old bond with Volodyovski makes his love a loaded thing, and the household fears what will happen when the two friends finally meet.

Azya Mellehovich

major

Also known as Azya, Tugai Bey, young Tugai Bey, Mellehovich

Azya is a Tartar of noble descent serving among the Polish officers, bearing the weight of his father's feared name and the suspicion that follows his origin. He moves through the same circles as Volodyovski and Ketling, his place among them never quite secure, his own purposes never quite declared. His presence introduces the novel's deeper currents of divided allegiance and inherited violence beneath the drawing-room tensions.

Pan Adam Novoveski

supporting

Also known as Adam, young Pan Adam, Unfortunately Pan Adam

Pan Adam moves between the drawing room and the hetman's quarters, carrying news of Crimean unrest and the call to service. He is young enough to blush before beautiful women and to twist a mustache that has barely sprouted, yet old enough to be entrusted with military errands. His arrival sets in motion the summons that will pull Pan Michael away from the domestic peace he has only just begun to taste.

Eva Novoveski

supporting

Also known as Eva, Panna Eva, Novoveski

Eva moves through the social world of the Commonwealth as a desirable match, her vanity both an asset and a vulnerability. She is entangled in the romantic calculations that surround Pan Michael and the other cavaliers, her preferences shaped as much by status as by feeling. Her presence sharpens the contrast between worldly ambition and the quieter loyalties that drive the novel's central romances.

Pan Novoveski

minor

Also known as Novoveski, old Pan Novoveski, old Novoveski

The proud father of Adam and Eva, a wealthy nobleman.

Halim

supporting

Also known as the faithful Halim

Halim serves Azya with a loyalty that is absolute and unshowy, the kind of service that asks no questions and keeps no ledger. His position places him at the intersection of Tartar kinship and Polish service, a double allegiance that the novel treats as both strength and danger. As Azya's confidant, he is the quiet instrument through which intentions become actions, and his presence keeps the Tartar thread woven into the story's fabric.

Pan Bogush

minor

Also known as Bogush, Pan Martsin Bogush

An elderly nobleman and friend of the main characters, often offering counsel.

Pan Makovetski

minor

Also known as Makovetski, XX Pan Makovetski

A local nobleman and neighbor, involved in the social life of the region.

Pani Makovetski

minor

Also known as the plump little Pani Makovetski, Makovetski

The wife of Pan Makovetski, a gossipy and pious woman.

Pan Yan Skshetuski

minor

Also known as Pan Yan, Yan, the afflicted Pan Yan

A veteran knight and old friend of Pan Michael, appearing from earlier novels.

Pan Kharlamp

minor

Also known as Kharlamp

A fellow officer and friend of Pan Michael, known for his bluntness.

Zosia Boski

minor

Also known as Zosia, the sensitive Zosia, Panna Zosia

A young, sensitive girl, daughter of Pani Boski, who has a crush on Pan Michael.

Pani Boski

minor

Also known as Pani, Boski

The mother of Zosia, a noblewoman concerned with her daughter's future.

Pan Snitko

minor

Also known as Snitko

An officer and companion of Pan Michael, often involved in military matters.

Zydor Lusnia

minor

Also known as Lusnia, the cruel Lusnia, The savage Lusnia

A brutal Cossack leader and antagonist in the border conflicts.

Motovidlo

minor

Also known as Pan Motovidlo

A Cossack colonel and ally, later a foe, in the Ukrainian campaigns.

Doroshenko

supporting

Doroshenko commands the loyalty of Cossack regiments and the wary attention of the Khan, a power broker whose designs reach across the Ukraine and into Crimea. He is the antagonist against whom Pan Michael's weary soldiering is measured, a reminder that the Commonwealth's peace is always provisional. His maneuvering with the Tartars and his refusal to be a mere instrument of any suzerain make him the novel's most formidable political and military presence.

Pan Nyenashinyets

minor

Also known as Nyenashinyets

A nobleman and friend of the main characters, often present at gatherings.

Hussein Pasha

minor

Also known as old Hussein, Hussein

A Turkish pasha and commander in the war against Poland.

Pan Gorzenski

minor

Also known as Gorzenski

A nobleman and officer, part of Pan Michael's circle.

Prince Boguslav Radzivill

minor

Also known as Boguslav Radzivill, Boguslav, Prince Boguslav

A treacherous Lithuanian magnate and antagonist from earlier novels.

Father Kaminski

minor

Also known as XXVI Father Kaminski, Kaminski

A priest who serves as a chaplain to the Polish forces.

Pan Humyetski

minor

Also known as Pan Kazimir Humyetski, Humyetski, Kazimir Humyetski

A nobleman and officer, a friend of Pan Michael.

Pan Anton Hrapovitski

minor

Also known as Pan Hrapovitski, Hrapovitski

A nobleman and officer in the Polish army.

Panna Aleksandra Billevich

minor

Also known as Panna Billevich

A noblewoman from a previous novel, mentioned as a relative.

Kara Mustafa

minor

Also known as young Kara Mustafa

A Turkish pasha, later a grand vizier, mentioned as a future threat.

Bishop Olshovski

minor

Also known as Olshovski

A bishop and political figure.

Adurovich

minor

Also known as Pan Adurovich

A Tartar officer serving under Azya, later a traitor.

Yuri Hmelnitski

minor

Also known as Hmelnitski, Yuri

The son of Bohdan Hmelnitski, a Cossack leader and pawn in the conflict.

Brother Yerzy

minor

Also known as Brother

A monk and spiritual advisor to the characters.

Yan Kazimir

minor

Also known as Yan

The King of Poland during the events of the novel.

Pan Vasilkovski

minor

Also known as Vasilkovski

An officer and friend of Pan Michael, known for his strength.

Azba Bey

minor

Also known as Azba

A Tartar chieftain and ally of Azya.

Pan Pyotrovich

minor

Also known as Pyotrovich, Pan Zaharyash Pyotrovich

A nobleman and friend of the main characters.

Pan Hieronim Lantskoronski

minor

Also known as Lantskoronski, Pan Lantskoronski

A nobleman and military commander.

Pan Mikolai Pototski

minor

Also known as Pan Pototski

A powerful Polish magnate and military leader.

Prince Yeremi Vishnyevetski

minor

Also known as the renowned Yeremi, Prince Yeremi

A legendary Polish prince and military commander, mentioned as a past figure.

Pan Byaloglovski

minor

Also known as Byaloglovski

A nobleman and friend of the main characters.

Pan Myslishevski

minor

Also known as Myslishevski

A nobleman and officer.

Pan Boski

minor

Also known as Boski

The husband of Pani Boski and father of Zosia.

Naviragh

minor

Also known as The dignified Naviragh

A dignified Tartar nobleman and envoy.

Anusia

minor

A young woman from Pan Michael's past, briefly mentioned.

Aga Murza Bey

minor

Also known as Murza Bey, Aga Bey

A Tartar chieftain.

Yanish Pasha

minor

Also known as Yanish, The valiant Yanish Pasha

A Turkish pasha and military commander.

Pan Hromyka

minor

A nobleman and officer.

Eliashevich

minor

A Tartar officer serving under Azya.

Pan Bidzinski

minor

A nobleman and officer.

Kiaya Pasha

minor

Also known as Kiaya, The white-bearded Kiaya

A Turkish pasha and commander.

John Murray Brown

minor

Also known as Brown

A Scottish officer serving with Ketling.

Vygovski

minor

A Cossack hetman and historical figure, mentioned in passing.

Sultan Galga

minor

Also known as Galga

A Tartar sultan and ally of the Poles.

Pan Kantski

minor

Also known as Kantski

A nobleman and officer.

Pan Charnyetski

minor

Also known as Pan Stefan Charnyetski

A famous Polish military commander, mentioned as a past figure.

Panna Anna Borzobogati

minor

Also known as Panna Anna, Anna

A noblewoman from a previous novel, mentioned briefly.

Panna Barbara Yezorkovski

minor

Also known as Panna Barbara, Barbara

A young woman mentioned in passing.

Pan Deyma

minor

Also known as Deyma

A nobleman and officer.

Tarasovski

minor

A Cossack officer.

Pan Dzevyantkevich

minor

A nobleman and officer.

Pan Revuski

minor

Also known as Revuski

A nobleman.

Major Kvasibrotski

minor

Also known as Kvasibrotski

A Polish major.

Pan Myazga

minor

A nobleman.

Prince Ovsyani

minor

Also known as Ovsyani

A Tartar prince.

Korytski

minor

A nobleman.

Pan Yarotski

minor

A nobleman.

Pan Lyubomirski

minor

A Polish magnate and military leader.

Teterya

minor

A Cossack hetman.

Pan Stanislav Lantskoronski

minor

Also known as Pan Stanislav, Stanislav

A nobleman and military commander.

Pan Varshytski

minor

A nobleman.

Pan Ubysh

minor

Also known as Ubysh

A nobleman.

Hanenko

minor

A Cossack colonel.

Pyentka

minor

A servant or minor character.

Tomashevich

minor

Also known as the Pole Tomashevich

A Polish officer serving with the Tartars.

Bishop Lantskoronski

minor

A bishop.

Pan Shmlud-Plotski

minor

Also known as Pan Plotski

A nobleman.