The novel by Ivan Melezh “People in the Swamp” (a summary will be presented below) is the most famous work of the writer. Translated into many languages of the world, the work reliably tells of village life in Soviet times.
A bit about the author
Ivan Pavlovich Melezh is a well-known Soviet writer, winner of many literary prizes and a member of the Writers' Union. It was published mainly in the Belarusian language. The first works began to appear in print since 1939.
Melezh turned to the image of the Great Patriotic War, the post-war years, a description of the village life of the 20-30s. Many of his works are autobiographical; the writer depicts Soviet reality in a very realistic and detailed way.
This article is devoted to one of the most famous works of Ivan Pavlovich - "People in the Swamp", a brief summary of the chapters and parts of which we will consider.
The novel "People in the Swamp"
The novel is included in the series "Polesskaya Chronicle", which was dedicated to the life of Belarusian peasants. The work was written in 1962 and became the most famous creation of Ivan Melezh. The novel "People in the Swamp", a brief summary of which we will consider, opens the Polesie cycle.
In the center of the story - Vasily Dyatlov and Anna Chernushka. And the work itself is the story of their life and failed love.
"People in the Swamp": a summary in parts. Part one
In the marshes stands the village of Kureni, almost cut off from the world. The main character Vasily goes to the first haymaking in his life. On the way, the cart of his family catches up with the cart of the neighbors - Chernushkov, the boy decides to overtake them, but the cart breaks, and they arrive on the meadow later than everyone else. At night, Vasily stays in the field with Anya and Khvedka Chernushki.
This summer Anna did not know the end of her boyfriend, although many were afraid of her sharp tongue. Every evening, as soon as it got dark, Vasily fled to the hedge of the house of Chernushkov, where Anna was waiting. One of these evenings, men with cut-offs approached them and asked where the house of Akhrem Gribka was. They did nothing to the local activist, they only scared him, but Vaska was arrested the next morning.
Upset Anna went to her friend to share her grief, but she was not at home, but on the way back she met local youth and went with the guys. On gatherings, the girl quarrels with Yefim Glushakov, the son of a rich man.
The next day, Anna and her sister Khadoska work with the Glushakovs. For two days, Yefim did not take his eyes off Anna, but the girl gives him a rebuff. Then annoyed Glushakov climbs to Khadosska. The girl in love with him is given for the promise to marry.
Rich in events and realistic novel "People in the Swamp". A brief summary in Russian of its first part can be completed as follows. Vasily did not stay in prison for long, his fellow villager Kostik helped to free him. On the way home, the young man hears the voices of Anna and Yefim. Jealousy and resentment erupt in him.
Part two
Nikanor has a meeting of Kurenevites, they want to drain the swamps, but in the end they come to the decision to build a dam. Anna comes to the meeting. The girl does not look at Basil. On the way home, he catches up with Anna, but Efim immediately joins them. Basil understands that he is superfluous.
The events described in the novel "People in the Swamp" are vivid and understandable, a brief summary only confirms this. Christmas is coming. Nikanor, who is appointed responsible for the construction of the dam, is getting ready for the assignment. Relatives from a neighboring village come to visit. Young people are walking on the street. Gradually, between the visitors and the locals, quarrels begin to break out, which turn into fights.
After the holidays, Nikanor collects Kurenevites to build a dam. Himself begins to dig a ditch. Until the haymaking, people worked tirelessly, but then everything stopped.
In August, harvesting began. Anna first worked with her stepmother, and then went into the forest for the berry. Yefim saw the girl and went after him. But Khadoska ran up to him, threw herself on her neck and said that she was pregnant. The guy replied that this was not from him and that it was generally better to go to the healer in the Glinishchi.
The events of the novel "People in the Swamp" continue to develop, a brief summary in Russian of which you are now reading.
Throwing Hodka with her stupid things out of his head, Yefim went deeper into the forest. In the clearing, he found Anna picking berries. The guy took her, kissed her, but the girl again broke free, having managed to hit the offender in the nose.
In the village, rumors began to circulate about Yefim and Anna. The girl’s father, having heard the conversations, went to her, but she replied that there was nothing. Chernushka calmed down. However, Vasily believed the rumors and, meeting Anna, called her. In response, the offended girl said that she and Yefim all agreed.
Glushakov send matchmakers to Chernushki. Yefim insists on an imminent wedding. On the street, Anna sees Vasily passing by, wants to make peace, but hesitates. Vasily is also having a hard time, but he believes that even without a wife he can show himself, become a good master.
Part three
To the smallest details, Melezh reflected the village life in his novel People in the Swamp. A summary of the chapters of the work helps to get closer to the world of Polesie people, to understand their experiences, hopes and sorrows.
Blackies go to the fair to collect the necessary amount for the wedding. Trade is going badly, but Larivon and Yefim help Anna. Then they go to dinner together. Yefim brings Anna to the store and buys a scarf as a gift. The girl briefly sees Vasily, and her cheerful mood is immediately clouded.
The redistribution of land begins in the village. Glushak really does not like it. At the meeting there were those who were dissatisfied with the calculations of the commission: many found excess land.
The next morning, Vasily decides to plow a piece of land Glushakov, which was recognized as superfluous. He took the horse and began to work. Soon he was noticed by Efim, the guys started a fight. The assembled people barely managed to pull them away. The next morning, mother Basil finds a black cross on the door of the house and asks his son to be careful.
Hadoska again lies in wait for Yefim. She is in tears and wishes the guy in the afterlife the same torment that she through his fault experiences on this. He says that he will never come to Yefim, and he will never see her.
Wedding
The wedding begins, the groom redeems the bride, and everyone goes to church, where the wedding takes place. They return home, the feast begins, Anna's father gives Yefim a meager gift - trousers. The young go to the house of the groom, the Glushakovs are not particularly happy about the wedding, but the walk continues.
After the wedding rush subsides, at dawn the mother-in-law wakes up Anna and sends her to care for cattle.
The end of the novel
The construction of the dam resumes. And on Sunday, a rally was held on this occasion. Vasily tried to find Anna in the crowd of the gathered people, but found only Yefim. The meeting ends, and Vasily, along with Honya and Nikanor, returns home. On the way, the conversation is about Anna. Vasily with incredible pain and longing speaks of a lost girl.
So ends the novel "People in the Swamp", a summary of which was presented above.