Soldiers are not born（up and down）Classic Re-reading Series of War Literature

Author: (Soviet) Konstantin Simonov, translated by Zhao Guilian, Wan Lina, Wu Yanping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Not Born Soldiers is the second part of a trilogy of novels by Soviet writer Konstantin Simonov, reflecting on the Great Patriotic War. It depicts the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942–1943. The novel not only portrays the brutal scenes of war but also creates vivid images of Red Army soldiers. These soldiers were not born as soldiers; they came from various fronts during peacetime to fight against the German fascists on the front lines. Through the baptism of battle, countless bloodshed and sacrifices, they ultimately became an invincible army. Konstantin Simonov, the pioneer of "panoramic" novels, was a renowned Soviet writer skilled in depicting grand historical scenes and profound philosophical insights. This book is the second part of his trilogy The Living and the Dead, which describes the Soviet Red Army in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943. The protagonists Shcherpilin, Sintsov, and others represent the fate of a group of people in the Soviet Union who suffered repression in the 1930s. Although they faced unfair treatment, their patriotism never wavered, and their conscience never dimmed. When their homeland was invaded by German fascists, they fought fearlessly on the front lines. The novel fully showcases the unwavering belief of Soviet soldiers in victory and their strong sense of responsibility to their homeland. The author created over 200 characters in the novel, narrating numerous real-life details of the war, many of which were based on his own experiences on the battlefield, making the novel authentic, vivid, and emotionally touching. What is even more valuable is that the trilogy not only depicts the fate of people during wartime but also, for the first time in Soviet literary history, touches upon a series of sharp and realistic issues. As a result, the trilogy was awarded the 1974 Lenin Prize.