Violent, tragic, passionate, monotonous, humorous and very human.

At times overly detailed and boring narrative, but then at times passionate and compelling scenes. Violent, tragic, passionate, monotonous, humorous and very human.

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The Cossacks Final Chapter

Whether Sholokhov wrote, adapted, or didn't write this work is irrelevant. It is an important work that brings us into the final stages of the decline and fall of the Cossacks.
For those who are not familiar with the history of the Cossaks, I will digress. The rise of the Cossacks or Kazaks in the area stretching from the modern Ukraine into Western Asia, began with the Mongol conquest of the Cuman (Turko-Mongolian) Kingdom in the middle of the 13th Century. This multi-ethnic group comprising mostly Slavs and Turko-Mongolians began to forge their unique identity under the Mongolian Golden Horde. The horse culture that had existed in the Steppes of Eurasia for several thousand years was strengthened by the Mongol invasion and their continued dominence over Russia for the following five centuries. Ukrainian serfs, slaves or peasants fleeing the Kievan Rus and the city states further north adopted this horse culture and out of it forged their own identity. The eventual rise of the Czars, particularly the Romanovs, would challenge their existance. Instead of the slow genocide committed on other hapless nationalities, such as the Circassians, the Cossacks would be incorporated into the new Russian Empire to become their chief shock cavalry. However, this compromise with their new overlords, would both forge and doom the legend of the "free men". By the early 20th Century, the Cossack life was in serious decline. Modern warfare, the Russian Revolution with its Bolshevik coup would bring about their final demise.
This story is about the most western of the Cossack Hosts, the Don, and is set in the early 20th Century. It covers the period from the Russo-Japanese war (1905) to the beginning of the Revolution (1917) and takes us into their personal lives, including their casual violence and the commonality of rape. We see them not as legends, but young men trying hold onto their declining nobility and maintain that legend in the face of modern mechanised warfare. This story is not a sweeping historical novel, but instead, it centres on the lives, loves and battles of a particular Eurasian Cossack family. It is a small but useful window on a lost past.
The reader has a rich slavic baratone voice which adds to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, there are times when he drops his voice and it is difficult to hear, but in the overall it is a great listen.

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Not the complete book.

**Only the first 2 parts, approx. 50% of full book (288 of 566 penguin modern classic). The remaining 2 parts and conclusion to this story is currently unavailable as an Audiobook.

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Very disappointed by Audible

This Book 1 of the Sholokhov epic was released as an audio book in 2019 but Audible has done nothing since. Extremely disappointed. Such a classic deserves better.

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Not a complete book!!!

Very disappointed because this is not a complete book! Reader does well but could be read more clearly.

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