Life and Fate Read Along, Part 3 Chapter 1

This post, covering Part 3, Chapter 1 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.

Welcome to part three of Life and Fate!

We’ve made it to the beginning of the Stalingrad offensive and we’ve seen Vera give birth to new life—surely we must be at a tonal turning point in the novel. But, it appears not quite so.

Shortly before the beginning of the Stalingrad offensive we learn that Krymov was summoned to a Soviet command post. He thinks he is summoned by Abramov, but the aid mentions a meeting with the Military Soviet. Krymov is initially confused by the mixup, but assumes nothing of it.