Hardship Journey (Volume 1 and 2) (Illustrated Edition)

Author: A. Tolstoy (China)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-11-01
Features: The title "The Road to the Grief" comes from the ancient Russian apocryphal text "The Passion of the Virgin." Although this book does not directly depict the October Revolution, it reflects the social changes and the historical process of the proletarian revolution before and after the October Revolution in the Soviet Union. The novel spans from 1914, through World War I, the February Revolution, the Civil War, to the beginning of 1920, lasting six years. It can be said that during these six years, the Russian people underwent true hardships in their effort to create the world's first socialist country. Opinions on how to evaluate the October Revolution differ in Russia and around the world, both then and now. However, whether praised or criticized, this novel holds historical document value, helping readers understand various aspects of the October Revolution. This book includes three parts: "The Sisters," "1918," and "The Dark Morning." The first part, "The Sisters," can be classified as a social novel, but it is indeed framed by the family tragedy of Katya and the love story of Dasha, all set against the backdrop of World War I. This serves as the foundation for transitioning to historical fiction. Therefore, the main characters of the first part are the two sisters, Katya and Dasha. Katya's storyline runs from her argument with her husband, her departure, her return, her illness, her husband's death, her failed suicide attempt, and her eventual union with. Dasha's storyline runs from being tempted, meeting and parting from Terekin, and finally reuniting with him. The author seems to lean slightly toward Dasha, with most of the narrative focusing on her, vividly depicting her burgeoning romance, even when she is on the brink of danger, she always turns things around. The second part also has two storylines, reflecting the different paths taken by Russian intellectuals after the October Revolution. Terekin joins the revolution, fights on the front lines, while seeks the White Army and takes the counter-revolutionary path. Dasha also falls into the trap of a counter-revolutionary plot, but it does not form an independent storyline. Katya falls into the Makhno bandit camp, merely serving as a plot device forkin to find her. The third part flows seamlessly in structure from the second. In the third part, Terekin has a smooth journey, though he is wounded, which leads to his reunion with Dasha.kin, on the other hand, must endure trials within the Makhno gang and only after being injured in a battle does he turn away from darkness and finally cooperate with Terekin.