The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 is mentioned in the book only as biographical context for Pietrek, not as a narrated battle or episode. The reference places a specific military experience in his past while leaving the circumstances and details of his participation unstated.

Reference in the Book

An explanatory note identifies Pietrek’s service with the Turks as participation in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. The war itself is not dramatized in the supplied passage; it serves to clarify the experience behind a reference to his military past.

Narrative Significance

The brief note links Pietrek’s personal history to a named conflict beyond the village’s immediate events. It establishes that he served in the war, but gives no account of his role, the battles he witnessed, or how the experience affected him.