Mikhail Sholokhov began work on the novel “They Fought for Their Country” back in 1942 and, with interruptions, continued until 1969. Shortly before his death, the writer burned the manuscript, leaving only certain chapters of the novel. Yet even in incomplete form, “They Fought for Their Country” makes an incredible impression on the reader, because Sholokhov shows with striking authenticity the atmosphere in the ranks of the Red Army in the first years of the war, the thoughts of ordinary soldiers who were hard-pressed to survive the retreat, and how yesterday’s peaceful citizens gradually turned into hardened fighters ready to defend their home at any cost. This edition also includes the story “The Science of Hatred” and journalistic works from the wartime and postwar years.