The Living and the Dead

Many literary critics believe that the trilogy "The Living and the Dead" is the best military work of Konstantin Simonov. Courage and heroism, loyalty to the motherland and faith in victory, love for life and humanity make the novel relevant... and understandable even in our time. The first book of the trilogy by Konstantin Simonov was published in 1960. The novel "The Living and the Dead" had a tremendous success in the Soviet Union and was already adapted into a film in 1964. The author of the novel was not only a talented writer but also a war correspondent during the war, which is why there is no room for fiction in the book. The trilogy is included in the list of "100 books on the history, culture, and literature of the peoples of the Russian Federation recommended for independent reading by schoolchildren." The first part of the trilogy is based on the front-line notes of K.M. Simonov and largely resonates with the author's personal experience. The novel features many images and characters, but there are only two main heroes — political instructor Ivan Sintsov and brigade commander Fyodor Serpilin. These heroes embody the Soviet officer. Serpilin is a hero of the Civil War, a successful Red commander who has gone through the mill of repression but has remained loyal to the motherland. Sintsov is a young commander who, within the first days, faces military tribunals and the need to justify his captivity and the loss of documents. Both heroes do not complain about their fate and bravely fight the enemy in the Moscow direction. According to Dmitry Bykov, the image of Ivan Sintsov reflects the author of the novel himself. The novel "The Living and the Dead" well demonstrates the author's attitude toward war, revealing his values, as he invests his thoughts in the words of the main characters, which still seem right today. It is no coincidence that the novel "The Living and the Dead" is called the most humane book about war.