Contents
About the Author
Also by Vasily Grossman
Map
List of Chief Characters
Dedication
Title Page
Introduction by Linda Grant
Introduction by the Translator Robert Chandler
Historical Background
The Text and the Translation
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
A Few Books About Stalinist Russia and Vasily Grossman
Copyright
About the Author
Vasily Grossman was born in 1905. In 1941 he became a correspondent for the Red Army newspaper, Red Star, reporting on the defence of Stalingrad, the fall of Berlin and the consequences of the Holocaust, work collected in A Writer at War. In 1960 Grossman completed his masterpiece Life and Fate and submitted it to an official literary journal. The KGB confiscated the novel and Grossman was told that there was no chance of it being published for another 200 years. Eventually, however, with the help of Andrey Sakharov, a copy of the manuscript was microfilmed and smuggled out to the west by a leading dissident writer, Vladimir Voinovich. Grossman began Everything Flows in 1955 and was still working on it during his last days in hospital in September 1964.
Linda Grant was born in Liverpool on 15 February 1951, the child of Russian and Polish Jewish immigrants. She is the author of Sexing the Millennium: A Political History of the Sexual Revolution, The Cast Iron Shore, Remind Me Who I am Again, Still Here, The People On The Street: A Writer’s View of Israel, The Clothes On Their Backs, The Thoughtful Dresser and We Had It So Good. Her second novel, When I Lived in Modern Times, set in Tel Aviv in the last years of the British Mandate, won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2000.
For more information on Orange Inheritance editions please see www.orange.co.uk/bookclub
Also by Vasily Grossman
Everything Flows
LIST OF CHIEF CHARACTERS
THE SHAPOSHNIKOV FAMILY AND THEIR CIRCLE
Shaposhnikova, Lyudmila Nikolaevna
Shtrum, Viktor Pavlovich Lyudmila’s husband, a physicist, member of the Academy of Sciences
Nadya daughter of Viktor and Lyudmila
Shaposhnikova, Alexandra Vladimirovna Lyudmila’s mother
Shaposhnikova, Yevgenia Nikolaevna (‘Zhenya’) Lyudmila’s sister
Abarchuk Lyudmila’s first husband, arrested in 1937
Shaposhnikov, Anatoly (‘Tolya’) Lyudmila’s son by Abarchuk, a lieutenant in the army
Spiridinova, Marusya sister of Lyudmila and Yevgenia, drowned in the Volga during the evacuation of Stalingrad
Spiridinov, Stepan Fyodorovich Marusya’s husband, director of the Stalingrad Power Station
Spiridinova, Vera daughter of Marusya and Stepan Fyodorovich
Shaposhnikov, Dmitry (‘Mitya’) brother to Lyudmila, Yevgenia and Marusya, now in a camp as a political prisoner
Shaposhnikov, Seryozha Dmitry’s son, a soldier at the front, in house 6/1
Krymov, Nikolay Grigorevich Yevgenia’s former husband, a commissar in the Red Army
VIKTOR’S COLLEAGUES
Sokolov, Pyotr Lavrentyevich mathematician in Viktor’s laboratory
Sokolova, Marya Ivanovna his wife
Markov, Vyacheslav Ivanovich in charge of experimental work in Viktor’s laboratory
Savostyanov laboratory assistant
Weisspapier, Anna Naumovna laboratory assistant
Loshakova, Anna Stepanovna laboratory assistant
Nozdrin, Stepan Stepanovich technician in Viktor’s laboratory
Perepelitsyn electrician in Viktor’s laboratory
Svechin head of the magnetic laboratory
Postoev a doctor of physics
Gavronov, Professor a specialist in the history of physics
Gurevich, Natan Samsonovich a doctor of physics
Chepyzhin, Dmitry Petrovich director of the Institute
Pimenov administrative director of the Institute while it is in Kazan
Shishakov, Aleksey Alekseyevich Academician, appointed administrative and scientific director on the Institute’s return to Moscow
Kovchenko, Kasyan Terentyevich appointed deputy director
Dubyonkov head of the personnel department
Ramskov secretary of the Institute Party Committee
Badin head of the Scientific Section of the Central Committee
VIKTOR’S CIRCLE IN KAZAN
Madyarov, Leonid Sergeyevich historian, Sokolov’s brother-in-law
Artelev, Vladimir Romanovich chemical engineer, the Sokolovs’ landlord
Karimov, Akhmet Usmanovich translator into Tartar
IN THE GERMAN CONCENTRATION CAMP
Mostovskoy, Mikhail Sidorovich an Old Bolshevik
Gardi an Italian Priest
Ikonnikov-Morzh a former Tolstoyan, called ‘a holy fool’ by his fellow prisoners
Chernetsov a former Menshevik
Yershov, Major a captured Russian officer
Nikonov, Major a captured Russian officer
Osipov, Brigade Commissar a captured Russian officer
Zlatokrylets, Colonel a captured Russian officer
Gudz, General a captured Russian officer
Kirillov, Major a captured Russian officer
Kotikov a captured Russian officer, a Party member
Liss, Obersturmbannführer SS representative on the camp administration
IN THE RUSSIAN LABOUR CAMP
Abarchuk Lyudmila’s former husband
Nyeumolimov former commander of a cavalry brigade during the Civil War
Monidze former member of the Presidium of the Communist Youth International
Rubin, Abrasha a medical orderly
Barkhatov a criminal, Abarchuk’s assistant
Tungusov an old guards officer
Ugarov, Kolka a criminal
Konashevich a former aircraft mechanic and boxing champion
Magar an Old Bolshevik, Abarchuk’s former teacher
Zakorov a criminal, in charge of Abarchuk’s hut
Perekrest leader of the coal-team
Dolgoruky, Prince a mystic
Stepanov former professor at the Economics Institute
Mishanin, Captain the operations officer
Trufelev a medical orderly
ON THE JOURNEY TO THE GAS CHAMBER
Levinton, Sofya Osipovna an army doctor, friend of Yevgenia
David a boy
Borisovna, Musya a librarian
Bukhman, Rebekka a relative of David’s
Rozenberg, Naum an accountant
Karasik, Natasha a shy girl
Yankevich, Lazar a machinist
Deborah Samuelovna his wife
Vinokur, Musya a pretty girl
Khmelkov, Anton a member of the special unit
Zhuchenko, Trofima a member of the special unit
Kaltluft, Sturmbannführer the commander of a Sonderkommando
IN THE LUBYANKA PRISON
Krymov, Nikolay Grigorevich Yevgenia’s former husband, a commissar
Dreling a Menshevik
Bogoleev an art historian and poet
Katsenelenbogen a former Chekist and Moscow compere
IN KUIBYSHEV
Shaposhnikova, Yevgenia Nikolaevna Lyudmila’s sister
Genrikhovna, Jenny former governess to the Shaposhnikov family
Shargorodsky, Vladimir Andreyevich an aristocrat, in exile from 1926–33
Limonov a man of letters from Moscow
Rizin, Lieutenant-Colonel Yevgenia’s boss
Grishin head of the passport department
Glafira Dmitrievna senior tenant in Yevgenia’s lodgings
AT STALINGRAD POWER STATION
&
nbsp; Spiridonov, Stepan Fyodorovich the director
Spiridinova, Vera his daughter
Andreyev, Pavel Andreyevich a guard
Nikolayev the Party organizer
Kamyshov the chief engineer
GETMANOV’S CIRCLE IN UFA
Getmanov, Dementiy Trifonovich secretary of an obkom, appointed commissar to Novikov’s tank corps
Getmanova, Galina Terentyevna his wife
Nikolay Terentyevich Galina’s brother
Mashuk an official in the State security organs
Sagaydak an executive in the propaganda department of the Ukrainian Central Committee
MEMBERS OF A FIGHTER SQUADRON OF THE RUSSIAN AIR FORCE
Viktorov, Lieutenant a pilot, Vera Spiridinova’s lover
Zakabluka, Major the commander of the squadron
Solomatin, Lieutenant a pilot
Yeromin, Lieutenant a pilot
Korol, Junior Lieutenant a pilot
Martynov, Wing-Commander Vanya a pilot
Golub, Political Instructor billeted with Viktorov
Skotnoy, Lieutenant Vovka a pilot, billeted with Viktorov
Berman the squadron commissar
Velikanov, Lieutenant a pilot, the duty-officer
NOVIKOV’S TANK CORPS
Novikov, Colonel Pyotr Pavlovich the commanding officer, Yevgenia’s lover
Nyeudobnov, General Illarion Innokyentyevich Novikov’s chief of staff
Getmanov, Dementiy Trifonovich the commissar
Karpov, Colonel the commander of the 1st Brigade
Byelov the commander of the 2nd Brigade
Makarov the commander of the 3rd Brigade
Fatov a battalion commander
Vershkov Novikov’s orderly
Kharitonov Novikov’s driver
OFFICERS OF THE SOVIET ARMY IN STALINGRAD
Yeremenko, Lieutenant-General* commander-in-chief of the Stalingrad Front
Zakharov, Lieutenant-General* Yeremenko’s chief of staff
Chuykov, Lieutenant-General* commander of the 62nd Army
Krylov, Major-General* Chuykov’s chief of staff
Gurov, Divisional Commissar*
Pozharsky* artillery commander of the 62nd Army
Batyuk, Lieutenant-Colonel* commander of 284th Rifle Division
Guryev, Major-General* commander of 39th Guards Division
Rodimtsev* commander of the 13th Guards Division
Belsky Rodimtsev’s chief of staff
Vavilov commissar of Rodimtsev’s division
Borisov, Colonel Rodimtsev’s second-in-command
Byerozkin, Major in command of a regiment
Glushkov Byerozkin’s orderly
Podchufarov, Captain in command of a battalion
Movshovich in command of a battalion of sappers
Pivovarov battalion commissar in Byerozkin’s regiment
Soshkin political instructor in Byerozkin’s regiment
SOLDIERS IN HOUSE 6/1
Grekov, Captain ‘house-manager’
Antsiferov, Sergeant-Major in command of sapper detachment
Vengrova, Katya a radio-operator
Kolomeitsev a gunner
Batrakov, Lieutenant in command of artillery observation post
Bunchuk an observer
Lampasov a plotter
Klimov a scout
Chentsov a member of the mortar-crew
Lyakhov a sapper
Zubarev, Lieutenant in command of the infantry
Shaposhnikov, Seryozha a soldier
Perfilev a soldier
Polyakov a soldier
IN THE KALMYK STEPPE
Darensky, Lieutenant-Colonel a staff officer from Front Headquarters
Alla Sergeyevna the wife of an Army commander
Claudia the mistress of the Member of the Military Soviet
Bova, Lieutenant-Colonel the chief of staff of an artillery regiment
OFFICERS OF THE GERMAN ARMY IN STALINGRAD
Paulus, General Friedrich* commander of the 6th Army
Schmidt, General* Paulus’ chief of staff
Adam, Colonel* Paulus’ adjutant
Bach, Lieutenant Peter an infantry officer
Krap an officer in charge of a detachment of scouts, in hospital with Bach
Gerne, Lieutenant a staff officer in hospital with Bach
Fresser, Lieutenant an officer in hospital with Bach
Lenard an SS officer
Chalb the commander of the military police
Eisenaug, Sergeant an NCO in Bach’s company
* Historical characters.
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO MY MOTHER, YEKATERINA SAVELIEVNA GROSSMAN
LIFE AND FATE
Vasily Grossman
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY Linda Grant
TRANSLATED BY Robert Chandler
Introduction by Linda Grant
In the summer of 2003 I read Vasily Grossman’s Life and Fate. It took three weeks to read and three weeks to recover from the experience. Novels fade, your immersion in their world turns into a faint dream, and then is forgotten. Only great literature grows in the imagination. Grossman’s book did more than grow, it seemed to replace everything I had previously thought and felt, filling me with what Grossman calls ‘the furious joy of life itself’ which I have never lost.
Life and Fate is about the terrible years of the mid-twentieth century in the Soviet Union. Its vast canvas covers the Battle of Stalingrad, the Gulag, the coercion of a state which decides as diktat the nature of reality and of truth, however preposterously distant from actual reality and truth. Generals on the Front, common soldiers, mothers, wives, sons, daughters, sisters, ex-husbands, a boy about to advance on his first kiss, Nazi camp commandant, a prison interrogator, a holy fool, scientists in a Moscow laboratory – all of these characters swarm through the pages. Great ideas are discussed: the nature of totalitarianism, the betrayal of the Bolshevik revolution, the nature of anti-Semitism, military strategy, the question of freedom and how we can be free despite the external circumstances that chain us.
Life and Fate can be a daunting, monumental read. But its greatness is not the weight of those themes, for at the end of its 871 pages you are left with a message which, to the reader just starting the novel, might appear so banal that it could be inscribed on a greetings card. For Grossman, communism and fascism are ephemera. What matters, what endures, is the individual and the ordinary act of human kindness, indeed the often senseless act of kindness, as when an old Russian woman, about to hoist a brick in the face of a captured German soldier, instead finds to her own incomprehension that she has reached into her pocket and given him a piece of bread. And in the years to come, will still never be able to understand why she did it.
Grossman was not opposing ideology with Christian forgiveness, far from it. He was a Soviet Jew whose Jewishness became more and more meaningful to him as he was caught between the vast threats of anti-Semitism both from Nazi Germany and at home in the form of the increasingly deranged conspiracy theories of Stalin. The passion of Life and Fate is not for ideas or history, but for the ordinary; for human life in all its perplexing, muddled, contradictory and infuriating variety. Grossman takes us into the minds of a group of soldiers waiting in the forest: one is full of dire forebodings, one is singing, one is chewing bread and sausage and thinking about the sausage, one is trying to identify a bird, one worries about whether he’d offended his friend, one is composing a farewell poem to autumn, one is remembering a girl’s breasts, one is missing his dog. This passage leads to the substance of Grossman’s central thought, which at the time he was writing could lead to the arrest of a Soviet citizen: ‘The only true and lasting meaning of the struggle for life lies in the individual, in his modest peculiarities, and his right to these peculiarities.’
Such treasonous ideas can topple empires.
In the weeks after I first read Life and Fate I was desperate to talk about it, and found a tragic absence. No one I knew had read the no
vel. Almost no one had even heard of it. The early years of the last decade were the time when Life and Fate and its author were only just beginning to be discovered by English-language readers, following the Harvill Secker publication of Robert Chandler’s translation. These early awakenings of interest were largely due to the publication of two best-selling books, Stalingrad and Berlin: The Downfall by the military historian Antony Beevor, who drew heavily on Grossman’s journalism as source material. Grossman spent the war as a correspondent, he was there at the Battle of Stalingrad and is believed to have been the first reporter of any nationality to enter the extermination camp of Treblinka and make speakable the horrors he found there.
It was ironic that a former British army officer should lead me directly to one of the greatest European Jewish writers of the century, in a field dominated by Proust, Kafka, Isaac Babel, Bruno Schulz and Joseph Roth.
Life and Fate affected me like no other novel. It affected me personally. The danger in describing this impact is that it will sound to new readers as if Grossman is a writer with a message, and messages tend to kill art stone-dead. Grossman did, of course, have something to say, but its purpose was against the whole notion of the Big Idea. Whatever Grossman was up to, he was not trying to recruit anyone; instead, he was telling us to leave each other alone, to stop harming each other with our insistence on telling others what to think and how to live.
Yet Grossman changed me. The compassion of Kafka for his commercial traveller trapped in the body of an insect, the historic scope of Joseph Roth and Isaac Babel’s hard-headed understanding of war, were all elements of an impact that it is difficult to describe, even years later. I had written novels about idealists, all failed, but political idealism still seemed worth the effort. Idealism is a romantic pursuit, it speaks to the heart, it flatters our egos. Grossman, no reactionary, taught me that the right to our own modest peculiarities is the only right worth fighting for. In his novel there are no heroes, no saints and no supermen. This must have seemed an extraordinarily dangerous message in the Soviet Union of the early Sixties, despite the Khrushchev thaw.
Life and Fate, unlike the work of the Soviet Union’s other internationally-recognised dissident writers, Boris Pasternak and Alexander Solzhenitsyn, was virtually unknown in the West until the mid-Eighties because the year after its completion in 1960 the book was, in the author’s words, ‘arrested’. KGB men came to Grossman’s flat, removed all copies, removed carbon paper and even the ribbon from his typewriter in case it had left a tell tale imprint. He was told that if his book were ever published, it would not be for another two hundred years. The Soviet Union was careful not to make a martyr of him and he continued to publish stories in important journals in the remaining few years of his life. But there were no Nobel Prizes or committees abroad campaigning for his safety, and part of the torment of his final years was the belief that his life’s work would become, in the word he used to describe the prisoners in Stalin’s camps, ‘dust’: a forgotten book about times everyone wanted to forget.