And quiet flows the Don; a novel
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| And quiet flows the Don; a novel |
“And Quiet Flows the Don” by Mikhail Sholokhov is a sweeping four‑volume historical novel about the Don Cossacks, centering on Grigory Melekhov’s tragic love story with Aksinia and his shifting loyalties during World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Civil War.
It vividly portrays both personal turmoil and the collapse of traditional Cossack life.
Grigory is one of the great tragic anti-heroes of 20th-century literature. Neither wholly Red nor White, he is torn between loyalty to his people, his love for Aksinya, and the shifting ideologies around him. Supporting characters—his wife Natalya, father Pantelei, brother Piotra, and the fiery Bolshevik Stockman—are equally memorable.
Main Characters
- Grigory Melekhov: Young Cossack soldier, torn between duty and passion.
- Aksinia Astakhova: Wife of Stepan, deeply in love with Grigory.
- Natalya Korshunova: Grigory’s wife, gentle but overshadowed by his love for Aksinia.
- Stepan Astakhov: Aksinia’s abusive husband, rival to Grigory.
- Piotra Melekhov: Grigory’s brother, fellow soldier.
- Author:Mikhail Sholokhov
- Publication date:1900