How Steel is Made

Author: Nikolai Ostrovsky
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: This book is selected according to the new curriculum standards for primary and secondary schools, serving as an authoritative reading text for students. It is the best-selling juvenile edition of classic works in the Chinese-speaking regions worldwide. This play, renowned both in the Soviet Union and abroad, has been a beloved and influential classic that has touched generations of readers. The protagonist, Paul Korchagin, joined the Red Army in his youth. Whether amidst the of war or during the period of national economic recovery, Korchagin demonstrated unwavering courage, an indomitable will, and boundless loyalty to the Party and the people. Due to multiple injuries in the war and overwork, he became paralyzed and lost his sight. Yet, he overcame both physical and mental setbacks, taking up his pen to celebrate the heroes who fought for the establishment, defense, and consolidation of the Soviet state.
The Soviet novel How the Steel Was Tempered was not written by a renowned literary master but was composed by Nikolai Ostrovsky based on his own life experiences. It can be said to be a "story of the people" told by an ordinary individual. The novel was dictated by the already blind and paralyzed author and recorded by his equally ordinary friends and family. It is precisely this work that has gained fame both domestically and internationally, becoming a classic that has influenced generations. The success of the work lies not in its elegant language or intricate plot, but in the powerful spiritual force and thought-provoking life philosophies and values revealed through its authentic narration.
"What is most precious in life is life itself. Life belongs to each person only once. A person should live their life so that when they look back, they do not regret having wasted their time or feel guilty for living a mean and mediocre life. Only in this way, when they face death, can they say: 'I have devoted my entire life and all my strength to the most magnificent cause in the world—the struggle for the liberation of humanity.'"
At a young age, Paul Korchagin devoted himself to the revolution. Despite losing his sight due to injuries in the war, he continued to work with great passion. Even while paralyzed in bed, he took up his pen as a weapon and began a new life.