Taras Bulba (Gogol)
Short summary
Ukraine, 16th century. Old Cossack colonel Taras Bulba welcomed his two sons home from Kiev seminary and soon took them to the Zaporozhian Sich, the Cossack headquarters, to begin their warrior life.
At the Sich, news arrived that Poles were persecuting Orthodox Christians. The Cossacks decided to wage war against Poland. During the siege of Dubno, Andríi discovered that the beautiful Polish noblewoman he had once met in Kiev was trapped inside the starving city. He secretly entered Dubno with food and, overcome by love, betrayed his comrades to fight for the Poles.
During a battle, Taras encountered Andríi leading Polish troops. Confronting his son, Taras said:
"Well, little son! Did your Lyakhs help you? ... You'll be such a traitor, will you? You'll betray your Faith in this fashion? betray your comrades? ... I gave you life, I will also kill you!"
Taras then shot and killed Andríi. Meanwhile, Ostap fought bravely but was captured by the Poles. Disguised as a foreign count, Taras later infiltrated Warsaw to witness Ostap's execution, crying out to encourage his son in his final moments. Taras was discovered but escaped.
Consumed by grief and vengeance, Taras led brutal raids across Poland, burning towns and slaughtering Poles. Eventually, he was captured when he stopped to retrieve his dropped pipe during a retreat. The Poles burned him alive, tied to a tree. Even as flames engulfed him, Taras shouted warnings to his escaping Cossacks and died proclaiming the ultimate triumph of Russian strength.
Detailed summary by chapters
Chapter titles are editorial.
Introduction. Historical background of the Kazaks and their traditions
The Zaporozhian Kazaks emerged as a unique military brotherhood in Southwest Poland during a lawless, reckless age. These fierce warriors lived in a region known as the Ukraina, or Border Marches, where they formed a bulwark against invading Tatars, Turks, and other enemies. The Kazaks established their headquarters, called the Syech, on the islands of the Dnyeper River beyond the rapids, from which they derived their name - Zaporozhtzi, meaning 'those beyond the rapids.'
Chapter 1. Taras Bulba reunites with his sons and plans for war
The story began with the return of Taras Bulba's two sons, Ostap and Andrii, from the Kiev seminary. Taras, an old Kazak colonel, greeted them with mockery over their scholarly appearance and long svitkas (coats). When Ostap, the elder son, took offense and challenged his father, Taras responded with delight, and the two engaged in a fistfight as a form of greeting.
Their mother, who had not seen her sons for over a year, wept at this violent reunion but could not intervene in the ways of Kazak men. After the fight, Taras announced his plan to send his sons to the Zaporozhian Syech the following week, dismissing their education as useless. "The academy, books, primers, philosophy, and all that, the devil only knows what, I spit upon it all!" he declared. That night, Taras decided they would leave for the Syech immediately, seeing no reason to delay their warrior training.
The next morning, Taras's wife tearfully blessed her sons for their journey, giving each a small holy image to wear around their necks. She begged them not to forget her and to send word when they could. The three men mounted their horses and departed, leaving the poor mother standing at the gate. As they rode away, Andrii looked back at their home one last time, while Ostap remained stoically forward-facing.
Chapter 2. Journey to the Syech and life among the Zaporozhtzi
As they journeyed across the steppe, Taras reminisced about his past while his sons were lost in their own thoughts. Ostap had been a reluctant student who had tried to run away from the academy multiple times, while Andrii, though equally brave, was more romantic and susceptible to feminine influence. Once, in Kiev, Andrii had fallen in love with a beautiful Polish noblewoman, the daughter of the Voevod of Kovno, risking his life to visit her bedroom through the chimney.
After three days of travel, they arrived at the Zaporozhian Syech on the island of Khortitza. The settlement bustled with activity - Kazaks sleeping in the open, trading, drinking, and playing music. No one questioned the newcomers about their origins, as was the custom. Taras and his sons were welcomed by old comrades, and Taras learned that many of his former companions had died in battle or been executed by their enemies.
Chapter 3. Kazak politics and the call to battle
Life in the Syech was characterized by constant revelry and few rules. The Kazaks spent their days carousing, trading, and occasionally practicing their military skills. Ostap and Andrii quickly adapted to this lifestyle, distinguishing themselves with their bravery and skill. However, Taras grew restless with this idle existence and sought to inspire the Syech to undertake a military campaign.
Taras approached the Koshevói, the elected leader of the Syech, urging him to lead the Kazaks on an expedition against the Turks or Tatars. The Koshevói refused, citing peace treaties that had been sworn. Dissatisfied, Taras secretly organized a drinking party that led to the Koshevói's removal and the election of a new leader, Kirdyaga, who would be more amenable to Taras's warlike plans.
Chapter 4. Yankels warning and the march to Dubno
The next day, a Kazak arrived at the Syech with alarming news from the Ukraina. He reported that Jewish leaseholders now controlled Christian churches, Catholic priests were using Orthodox Christians as horses, and Jewish women were making petticoats from priests' vestments. The Hetman and colonels who had protested these abuses had been executed. This news enraged the Zaporozhtzi, who immediately prepared for war against Poland to defend their Orthodox faith.
In their fury, the Kazaks began attacking the Jews living near the Syech. Yankel, a Jewish merchant who had previously known Taras, begged for mercy. Taras recognized him and spared his life, allowing him to hide under a wagon. The Koshevói organized the army for the campaign, giving strict orders about maintaining discipline and avoiding drunkenness during the march.
Chapter 5. The siege begins and Andriis secret meeting
The Kazak army swept through Poland, spreading terror as they advanced. They eventually reached the city of Dubno, where the Polish forces had taken refuge. The Zaporozhtzi laid siege to the city, surrounding it with their wagons. After a failed assault on the fortified walls, they settled in for a prolonged siege, cutting off all supplies to starve out the defenders.
One night, as Andrii slept in a wagon, he was awakened by a strange figure - a Tatar woman who served the daughter of the Voevod. She revealed that her mistress, the same Polish beauty Andrii had loved in Kiev, was now in Dubno and was starving along with everyone else in the besieged city. She begged Andrii for bread for her mistress's mother, saying, "Better that I should die first, and she afterwards."
Moved by this plea, Andrii collected bread and followed the Tatar woman through a secret underground passage into the city. His heart pounded at the thought of seeing his beloved again, and he forgot all about his father, brother, and comrades as he entered the enemy stronghold.
Chapter 6. Andriis betrayal and defection to the Polish side
Inside Dubno, Andrii was led to a Catholic church where he found the Polish noblewoman. She had grown even more beautiful since their last meeting, though she was pale from hunger. When she saw him, she was overcome with emotion, torn between her love for him and the knowledge that he was an enemy of her people. She lamented the cruel fate that had made them enemies.
"What are my father, my comrades, my fatherland to me? ... Our fatherland is the one our spirit longs for, the one which is dearest of all to it. My country is—you! That is my fatherland, and that land I bear in my heart."
Overwhelmed by passion, Andrii declared his love for her and his willingness to forsake everything - his father, comrades, and homeland - for her sake. They embraced and kissed, sealing Andrii's betrayal of his people. At that moment, news arrived that Kazak reinforcements had been captured and brought into the city with supplies. Andrii did not hear this news, lost as he was in his newfound love.
Later, Andrii accepted a commission in the Polish army, donning their armor and joining their ranks. He was transformed into a Polish knight, ready to fight against his own father and brother. The narrator lamented that the Kazak was lost, and that old Taras would curse the day his son was born to dishonor him.
Chapter 7. The ongoing siege and kazak valor in battle
The Kazaks discovered that Polish reinforcements had entered Dubno during the night while many of them were drunk. The Koshevói reprimanded them for their carelessness but was reassured by Kukubenko, a young kurén atamán, who argued that idleness naturally led to drinking. The Kazaks prepared for battle as the Polish forces emerged from the city gates.
A fierce battle ensued. The Kazaks fought valiantly, with many displaying extraordinary courage. Demid Popovich, Kukubenko, and other Kazak leaders performed heroic feats, slaying numerous enemies. The Polish forces were led by a fat colonel and included many nobles in magnificent attire. Among them rode Andrii, now dressed as a Polish knight, leading a hussar regiment.
"I want to tell you, sir brothers, what our brotherhood is. You have heard from your fathers and grandfathers in what honour our land has always been held by all men. We have made ourselves known to the Greeks, and we captured gold from Tzargrad."
The battle raged on, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The old Kazak Bovdyug was killed, as was the brave Balan. Before dying, Bovdyug addressed his comrades, reminding them of their brotherhood and urging them to uphold their faith. The Kazaks continued to fight fiercely, inspired by their fallen comrades and their commitment to defending their Orthodox faith.
Chapter 8. Taras becomes atamán and prepares for final battle
During the battle, the atamán of the Umansky kurén, Borodaty, was killed. Ostap took charge of the leaderless Kazaks and was elected as the new atamán of the kurén. Taras witnessed this from afar and was filled with pride at his son's leadership. Meanwhile, news arrived that Tatars had attacked and plundered the Syech during their absence, killing or capturing those left behind.
The Kazak council debated whether to pursue the Tatars or continue the siege of Dubno. They decided to split their forces - half would chase the Tatars under the Koshevói's leadership, while the other half would remain to fight the Poles. Taras chose to stay and continue the siege, and was elected temporary atamán of the remaining forces.
"There is no bond more sacred than brotherhood! A father loves his children, a mother loves her children, the children love their father and their mother; but this is not like that, brethren! the wild beasts also love their young!"
Before the final battle, Taras addressed his men, speaking passionately about their brotherhood and the honor of their land. He reminded them of their ancestors' glory and the sacred bond that united them as Kazaks. His words stirred the warriors' hearts, preparing them for the coming fight. The Kazaks took an oath to stand together until death, drinking to their faith, to the Syech, and to their glory.
Chapter 9. Taras kills Andrii and Ostap is captured
The next day, the Polish forces emerged from the city gates in full strength. Among them was Andrii, leading a hussar regiment, magnificent in his Polish armor. Taras, seeing his son among the enemy, devised a plan. He ordered his men to lure Andrii into the forest, then positioned himself to intercept his son.
When Andrii pursued the retreating Kazaks, Taras suddenly appeared before him. At the sight of his father, Andrii turned pale and froze. Taras ordered him to dismount, and Andrii obeyed like a child. "Stand still, don't move! I gave you life, I will also kill you!" said Taras. As Andrii stood motionless, Taras raised his gun and fired, killing his son. Before shooting, he noticed that Andrii's lips moved to utter a name - not of his homeland or mother, but of the beautiful Polish woman.
"In what way wasn't he a genuine kazák? He's tall of stature, and black-browed, and his face is that of a nobleman, and his hand was strong in battle! He has fallen, fallen ingloriously, like a vile dog!"
Ostap arrived and was shocked to find his brother dead by their father's hand. Taras merely nodded when Ostap asked if he had killed Andrii. Before they could bury the body, they received word that the Poles had been reinforced and were attacking the Kazak camp. They rushed back to join the battle.
The battle turned against the Kazaks. Many of their leaders fell, and the Polish forces surrounded them. Taras and Ostap fought bravely, but they were separated. Ostap was overwhelmed by enemies and captured alive. Taras tried to reach him but was struck down and lost consciousness. When he awoke, he found himself being carried away by his loyal comrade Tovkach, who had rescued him from the battlefield.
Chapter 10. Tarass journey to Warsaw in search of Ostap
Taras recovered from his wounds in the Zaporozhian Syech, but he was consumed by worry for his captured son. He learned that Ostap had been taken to Warsaw and would be publicly executed. Despite the danger, Taras resolved to go to Warsaw to see his son one last time.
He sought out Yankel and persuaded the fearful Jew to guide him to Warsaw. To avoid detection, Yankel disguised Taras as a foreign count and hid him in a wagon beneath a load of bricks. They successfully entered the city, and Yankel arranged for Taras to visit the prison where Ostap was held.
Through bribery and cunning, Yankel secured permission for the disguised Taras to see the prisoners. Inside the jail, Taras witnessed the terrible conditions in which the captured Kazaks were kept. He saw Ostap, who had been tortured but had not broken under the pain. Taras could not reveal himself for fear of endangering them both, but his heart ached to see his son's suffering.
Chapter 11. Ostaps execution and Tarass campaign of vengeance
The next day, Ostap and the other captured Kazaks were led to their execution in the city square. A large crowd gathered to witness the spectacle. Ostap faced his death with courage, enduring terrible tortures without crying out. Only at the end, when his strength was failing, did he call out, "Father! Where are you? Do you hear it all?"
"Hey, Ostap, Ostap! don't surrender!" But already they had overpowered Ostap... And he sank heavily to the earth, like a felled oak. And darkness covered his eyes.
From the crowd, Taras answered, "I hear!" His voice caused the entire assembly to shudder. The soldiers searched for him, but Taras had already disappeared. Yankel, terrified, fled the city as quickly as possible.
Consumed by grief and rage, Taras raised a new Kazak regiment and launched a devastating campaign of vengeance across Poland. He burned eighteen towns and nearly forty churches, slaughtering nobles and sparing no one. His name became feared throughout the land, and the Polish government assigned five regiments under Pototzky to capture him.
Chapter 12. The final battle and death of Taras Bulba
After six days of pursuit, the Polish forces cornered Taras and his men in an abandoned castle on the banks of the Dnyeper. For four days, the Kazaks defended themselves with bricks and stones, but their provisions and strength were failing. Taras decided they must break through the enemy lines.
During their escape attempt, Taras stopped to retrieve his dropped pipe, allowing the Poles to capture him. They bound him with chains to a tree and prepared to burn him alive. As the flames rose around him, Taras saw his Kazaks escaping in boats on the Dnyeper. He shouted directions to them, helping them reach safety even as he faced his own death.
"Farewell, comrades!" he shouted to them from above; "remember me, and come hither again next spring to make merry!—What if ye have captured me, ye devilish Lyakhs? Think ye that there is anything in the world which the kazák fears?"
The Poles struck Taras for helping his men escape, but he remained defiant to the end. As the flames engulfed him, he prophesied the rise of a Russian Tzar to whom all powers would submit. His final words celebrated the strength of the Russian spirit, which no fire or power on earth could overcome. The Kazaks escaped down the Dnyeper, speaking of their brave atamán as they rowed to safety.
"But can any fire, flames or power be found on earth capable of overpowering Russian strength? Not small is the river Dnyeper... and talked of their Atamán."