Stalingrad

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( 3,586 ratings, 481 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Stalingrad by Vasily Grossman, a historical fiction novel, delves into the tumultuous period of World War II, focusing on the epic Battle of Stalingrad. It intricately weaves together the lives of soldiers, civilians, and families, highlighting their struggles, resilience, and humanity amidst the chaos and brutality of war. The narrative paints a vivid picture of the Soviet Union's fight for survival and its impact on ordinary people.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have an interest in profound explorations of historical events and human resilience. It offers a richly detailed depiction of the Battle of Stalingrad, intertwined with personal stories and broader themes of bravery and sacrifice. If you appreciate a narrative that blends historical accuracy with deep emotional insight, this historical fiction could greatly appeal to you.

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Stalingrad

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A new rejacketed, red spine edition of Vasily Grossman's epic prequel to Life and Fate

'One of the great novels of the 20th century' Observer

In April 1942, Hitler and Mussolini plan the huge offensive on the Eastern Front that will culminate in the greatest battle in human history.

Hundreds of miles away, Pyotr Vavilov receives his call-up papers and spends a final night with his wife and children in the hut that is his home. As war approaches, the Shaposhnikov family gathers for a mealβ€”despite her age, Alexandra will soon become a refugee; Tolya will enlist in the reserves; Vera, a nurse, will fall in love with a wounded pilot; and Viktor Shtrum will receive a letter from his doomed mother which will haunt him forever.

The war will consume the lives of a huge cast of charactersβ€”lives which express Grossman's grand themes of the nation and the individual, nature's beauty and war's cruelty, love and separation.

For months, Soviet forces are driven back inexorably by the German advance eastward and eventually Stalingrad is all that remains between the invaders and victory. The city stands on a cliff top by the Volga River. The battle for Stalingradβ€”a maelstrom of violence and firepowerβ€”will reduce it to ruins. But it will also be the cradle of a new sense of hope.

Stalingrad is a magnificent novel not only of war but of all human lifeβ€”its subjects are mothers and daughters, husbands and brothers, generals, nurses, political officers, steelworkers, tractor girls. It is tender, epic, and a testament to the power of the human spirit.

'You will not only discover that you love his characters and want to stay with themβ€”that you need them in your life as much as you need your own family and loved onesβ€”but that at the end... you will want to read it again' Daily Telegraph

THE PREQUEL TO Life and Fate NOW AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH FOR THE FIRST TIME, STALINGRAD IS A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND NOW A MAJOR RADIO 4 DRAMA

WINNER OF MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION "LOIS ROTH AWARD" FOR TRANSLATIONS FROM ANY LANGUAGE

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Vasily Grossman's Stalingrad is recognised for its epic and sweeping portrayal of World War II, capturing a range of personal stories set against the backdrop of a significant historic event. It requires dedication to read due to its length, but reviewers highlight its vivid depiction of war and the deep connection with its characters, drawing comparisons to classic literary works in terms of its emotional impact and narrative scope. The novel is rich with human stories, and despite its substantial length, many readers find themselves wanting to return to it again.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784878801

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Robert Chandler
  • Translated by Elizabeth Chandler
  • Edited by Robert Chandler
  • Edited by Yury Bit-Yunan
  • Translated by Elizabeth Chandler
  • Translated by Robert Chandler

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 60.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 685g

Pages: 1008

About the Author

Vasily Grossman (Author) Vasily Grossman was born in 1905. In 1941, he became a war reporter for the Red Army newspaper Red Star and came to be regarded as a legendary war hero. Life and Fate, his masterpiece, was considered a threat to the totalitarian regime, and Grossman was told that there was no chance of the novel being published for another 200 years. Grossman died in 1964. Robert Chandler (Translator) Robert Chandler is the celebrated translator of Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman. He has edited and translated numerous Russian titles, including the complete works of Platonov. He is the editor of Russian Short Stories from Pushkin to Buida

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