Life and Fate Read Along, Part 2 Chapter 27

This post, covering Part 2, Chapter 27 is part of The Slavic Literature Pod’s chapter a day read along of Vasily Grossman’s Life and Fate. Learn more about our project here.

Although Kovchenko might be the new director of the Institute, clearly the leader has become Shishakov. As the narrator leaves, Kovchenko is the first to arrive and last to leave, but Shishakov isn’t seen for weeks. Clearly, he is performing tasks of the highest level.

While Viktor realizes that his works is not on the same level of the Central Committee, he is disappointed that, on the level of rations, his work is considered similar to Sokolov. The narrator lets us know that “To Viktor’s shame, what hurt him most was being put on the same level as Sokolov. ‘Yes, they should have recognized my merits by allowing me at least one extra egg,’” (p. 466). Even down to the level of eggs, Viktor feels that his particular achievements deserve more recognition than his colleagues.