On its completion in 1960, Life and Fate (rather than its author) was arrested by the KGB. More than twenty years after its arrest, Life and Fate was smuggled out of the Soviet Union on microfilm. At the centre of this epic novel looms the battle of Stalingrad. Within a world torn apart by ideological tyranny and war, Grossman s characters must work out their destinies. Chief among these are the members of the Shaposhnikov family Lyudmila, a mother destroyed by grief for her dead son; Viktor, her husband, a scientist who ...
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On its completion in 1960, Life and Fate (rather than its author) was arrested by the KGB. More than twenty years after its arrest, Life and Fate was smuggled out of the Soviet Union on microfilm. At the centre of this epic novel looms the battle of Stalingrad. Within a world torn apart by ideological tyranny and war, Grossman s characters must work out their destinies. Chief among these are the members of the Shaposhnikov family Lyudmila, a mother destroyed by grief for her dead son; Viktor, her husband, a scientist who falls victim to anti-semitism; and Yevgenia, forced to choose between her love for the courageous tank-commander Novikov and her duty to her former husband. Life and Fate is one of the great Russian novels of the 20th century and the richest and most vivid account there is of what the Second World War meant to the Soviet Union.
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Add this copy of Life and Fate to cart. $11.47, good condition, Sold by EB-Books LLC rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rockford, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Harvill Press.
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Good. Used book that is clean, average condition without any missing pages. 100%Money-Back Guarantee. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed! Ship within 24 hours! !
Add this copy of Life and Fate to cart. $12.00, fair condition, Sold by Chaparral Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Portland, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by The Harvill Press.
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Fair. Size: 5x1x8; Cover differs from the item pictured. Softbound book with a large remainder mark on the bottom edge in black felt pen. Abrasions visible at all corners of spine, which is uncreased. Medium shelfwear rubbing to all surfaces, and light age toning to all edges of text. Sticker ghost on rear wrap. A very serviceable reading copy.
Add this copy of Life and Fate to cart. $25.00, good condition, Sold by BARNABY rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Oxford, OXFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1995 by Harvill.
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Good Condition. Corners a little bumped. Pages are free from notes or highlighting. Bindings firm, spine intact. Otherwise, a good used copy. Publisher's note: "A novel centred around the Battle of Stalingrad." Size: 21.6 x 13.6 x 4.4 cm. 880 pp. Shipped Weight: 1-2 kilos. Category: Fiction; Russia (Federation)--Volgograd; Soviet Union; Social conditions; Russia (Federation); Families; Military campaigns; Jews; Russian fiction; ISBN: 1860460194. ISBN/EAN: 9781860460197. Add. Inventory No: 230202ABJ012053.
Add this copy of Life and Fate to cart. $54.07, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by The Harvill Press.
I am having to break up the reading of 'Life and Fate'. Knowing that it is based on Vasily Grossman's real life experience it is dreadful to know the horrific lives and deaths of so many people at the hands of Hitlers Germans, and Joseph Stalin's tyranny. I do not read the book at bed time, and have read 'A walk in the Woods' by Bill Bryson during my first break from Life and Fate. I am now reading Enid Blyton's 'Up the Faraway Tree' before going back in to 'Life and Fate'.
Michael B
Dec 6, 2012
haunting book
This book was arrested by the KGB while the author was allowed to remain free. However copies had been smuggled abroad. It presents Soviet Communism as being little different to Nazism. Grossman intercuts between scenes in a gulag and a concentration camp. Grossman was a war reporter with the Soviet 'Red Star' newspaper, so he knows what he is talking about. The opening scenes of Stalingrad ablaze are unforgettable. I found the German former nanny being denounced as an enemy agent -and her pet cat killed-so that someone could take her apartment as it had an extra room very reminiscent of what family members told me about the Second World War. British POWs spilling the beans about a radio to the Germans so that they could have cigaretttes, chocolate or just get into their captors' good books. Parts of it could have done with a literary editor but it was written in secret and has a few rough edges here and there, in as much as one can tell in translation.
Andrew M
Dec 1, 2011
Stalingrad, Stalin and Soviet Society
I came to this novel with the assistance of Athony Beevor's 'Stalingrad', though could be enjoyed without it.Following the complexity of the narrative of the family relationships is difficult but it draws you in to a deeply human tale of the effects of war on individuals and society. At times so moving it almost becomes unbearable.This is a book I had to resist the temptation to finish in one sitting. Truly worth your time
Steven W S
Nov 24, 2011
My Favorite Book
This great book is my favorite historical novel. Its scope and power allow the reader to fully understand the fact that Russian Communism and German National Socialism were little more than ugly, feuding brothers, struggling for power.
billbolen
Mar 4, 2010
Classic WW2 epic
One of great novels to come out of WWII. Based around battle of Stalingrad and families involved. Incredible insight into Soviet State and Fascism. Long read but worth it.