In Vain

"In Vain" by Henryk Sienkiewicz is a love story that takes readers to 19th-century Poland. Written before Sienkiewicz had even turned 18, the book is full of the youthful spark, vigor, and hope that often defines young men on the cusp of life. As such, Yosef, the hero of the tale, is able to leap off the page as he deals with studies at university, friendship, changing feelings, and falling in love.