Obelisk. Sotnikov. Vasily Bykov. Novellas

Vasyl Vladimirovich Bykov (1924–2003) was a Soviet and Belarusian writer and a veteran of the Great Patriotic War. It is no surprise that war became the central theme of his work. Yet his stories are far from mere chronicles of military life, victories, and defeats. He explores timeless existential themes that are important in peacetime as well: responsibility, honesty, trust, integrity, and compassion. This collection includes two novellas: “Sotnikov” and “The Obelisk.” The first explores the issue of moral choice in a crisis, and the paths that lead to either heroism or betrayal. The second tells of how easily a person’s reputation can be tarnished by a bureaucrat’s stroke of a pen, and how difficult it is to restore their good name. And how important it is not to remain indifferent. For older students.