How the Steel Was Tempered by Nikolai Ostrovsky. Short summary

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An autobiographical novel that tells the story of Pavel Korchagin’s childhood, youth, adulthood, and illness. The hero takes part in the Civil War, after which he returns to the city and works for the Cheka.

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To the small town where Pavel lived comes the news of the overthrow of the tsar. The boy could not study as he had to do hard work. Petlyura gangs arrive in the province. Paul observes multiple Jewish pogroms and brutal murders.

The hero becomes indignant and helps his brother’s friend, the sailor Zhukhrai. He thinks that Pavel could be a good fighter for the workers’ cause, but he is still too young.

Korchagin saves Zhukhray from the convoy. A denunciation is made on him, and the young man falls into the hands of the Petlyurovs. The convoy offers to shoot him, but Pavel manages to escape. He hides at his acquaintance Toni’s house.

Pavel takes part in the fighting of the civil war. Later he returns to the city and learns about the creation of the Komsomol organization. Korchagin becomes its active participant. The hero goes to work for the Cheka, which in the province was headed by Zhukhrai. The work takes a bad effect on Pavel’s health. He goes to Kiev, where he serves in a special department under Segal.