Life and Fate Read Along, Part 3 Chapter 57

This post, covering Part 3, Chapter 57 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.

During the bits of Krymov’s second interrogation that we have access to, it seems he is vaguely made aware that the Soviets have defeated the Germans. Although the chapter is written to show Krymov fading in and out of consciousness, he is able to make out someone quietly saying “It’s just been announced that we’ve routed the German forces at Stalingrad. I think Paulus has been captured, but I couldn’t quite make it out,” (p. 847). Similar to how Viktor felt when his research was falling out of favor with the State, Krymov’s suffering becomes linked to the Soviet victory.