The Military Uses of Literature: Fiction and the Armed Forces in the Soviet Union [Hardcover]

Mark T. Hooker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 027595563X | ISBN-13: 978-0275955632 | Publication Date: May 14, 1996 | Edition: First Edition

This book studies the made-to-order genre of socialist-realist fiction that was produced at the direction of the Main Political Directorate of the Soviet Army and Navy (MPD) as a part of the war for men's minds waged by the Soviet State. The first chapter is a history of the genre, tracing it from its roots in the Revolution to the dissolution of the MDP in 1991. Topics examined in the book include the attitude toward Germans following World War II; the retirement of the World War II generation; military wives; Dear John letters; life at remote posts; the military as a socializing institution; the use of lethal force by sentries; attitudes toward field training exercises, heroism, and initiative; legitimacy of command; and the reception of Afghan vets.

Editorial Reviews

Review

?Hooker outlines attempts, from 1960 to 1991, to have writers help Soviet readers adjust to shifts in military needs and priorities. This study shows how writers responded--not always in a socialist-realist way--to the given military themes....this volume provides plenty of evidence that writers could slip the bonds of bureaucratic mandate, seize authorial freedom, and write in a broadly human way.... All collections.?-Choice

Book Description

Studies the made-to-order genre of socialist fiction produced at the direction of the Main Political Directorate of the Soviet Army and Navy.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Praeger; First Edition edition (May 14, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 027595563X
• ISBN-13: 978-0275955632
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,926,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars An important piece of scholarship, September 2, 2008

By 

Timothy J. Bazzett "ReedCityBoy" (Reed City, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Military Uses of Literature: Fiction and the Armed Forces in the Soviet Union (Hardcover)

I don't know what I'm doing trying to blurb a scholarly kinda book like this, but here goes, for whatever it's worth. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 90s, it might seem that research like Hooker's has become obsolete, a moot point. But that remains to be seen, especially in view of recent hostile moves in the Caucasus region by the military forces of Putin's Russia. We'll see. The very fact that the Main Political Directorate of the Soviet military put out periodic "shopping lists" of what they wanted fiction writers to produce to enhance the appeal of national service makes it obvious to the average western reader that any real literary creativity would probably be seriously compromised, if not totally stifled. Here's an example of such a list of topics for military fiction to explore, published in 1977:

"* the romance and heroism of the service; * the unity of the Army and the people; * the personality of the professional officer as a part of an advanced Socialist society; * the high ideals, convictions and morals of servicemen and * their readiness to perform feats of valor."

Blecch! Sounds pretty dreary and party-line, huh? And there were other such similar and equally restrictive lists published for the edification and direction of Soviet writers over a period of nearly sixty years, from the 30s to the 90s. I have long been interested in, if not an actual student of, life in the old Soviet Union, and its military always held a special attraction for me. So I came to this book in hopes of finding some help in locating some "good" books about real life in the modern Soviet military. Sadly, because "the task of military literature is to support the official point of view," I found nothing in this book - no titles or authors - that I would want to pursue and read in its entirety. While I am sure there is probably some decent, perhaps even good writing to be found in these books, because of the need to fulfill the aforementioned "task of military literature," the scenarios are too often contrived and forced in order to suit the Party line and also to provide the "required socialist-realist happy ending." In many of the works cited, the protagonist hero is even the unit's political officer, or "Zampolit" for cripes sake. I mean, Come ON! I'm pretty sure the political officer of most Soviet units was not much more than the Party's undercover "weasel" or stool pigeon. Remember the Zampolit in the book and film, "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming"? A stooge! Even in the book's final chapter dealing with the Soviet forces' role in the ill-fated Afghanistan war, Hooker has this to say of the Soviet fiction depicting that conflict: "The mujahedeen are ruthless and cruel. The Soviets are gallant and kind." Of course there are wonderful Russian novels out there. Everyone knows that. But those weren't the ones being examined by Hooker in this study. I should probably give this a 5-star, just because I can appreciate all the work that went into it; and it is extremely well written and erudite with a capital E. But for the average western reader like me, it's a slog. I'm still hoping to find some really good novel (or a good memoir even) about the Afghan war by a vet who was there - in translation, of course. Maybe Hooker will see this and put me on to one. In the meantime - Molodets, Mark! - Tim Bazzett, author of SoldierBoy: At Play in the ASA