The novel “The Hostage” is considered the most expressive work of X. Kan, where the writer’s talent was most characteristic: the wealth of the author’s imagination, combined with subtle observation, makes the artistic images surprisingly vivid and memorable. “The Hostage” is an Icelandic saga, a folk legend about the tragic life of two brothers, about the almighty power of love, which can even do the seemingly impossible. This unusual story is beautiful and sad, full of mysterious adventures. Kindness and anger, love and hatred, hopes and disappointments - the reader will find all this in the novel “Envy” by Eugene Sue.