Stalingrad

Stalingrad, originally published in 1952 as 'For a Just Cause' (За правое дело), is a novel by Vasily Grossman that delves into the lives of Soviet citizens and soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad.

The book follows the Shaposhnikov family and their friends as they navigate the horrors of war, from the initial German invasion to the pivotal battle that marked a turning point in World War II. The novel, despite being subject to Soviet censorship, provides a vivid and engrossing portrayal of the war's impact on ordinary people.

It is the first part of Grossman's dilogy, with 'Life and Fate' serving as its sequel, which critiques both Nazism and Stalinism more explicitly.

The English translation by Robert and Elizabeth Chandler includes additional material from Grossman's unpublished manuscripts, aiming to reflect the author's original intentions as closely as possible.