10 best books by Valentin Pikul
Valentin Savvich Pikul is the author of many interesting works on the naval and historical themes. Pikul's books were popular during his lifetime and were reprinted many times after the writer's death. Critics often criticized the works of Valentin Pikul, but this did not diminish his popularity. After all, ambiguity generates interest.
It was the works of this writer that became for many people a guide to the world of historical literature in the Soviet era. If you like the story or the naval theme is interesting, you will also like the books of this, without doubt, a talented Soviet author. And we have collected in our ranking of the top 10 books of Valentin Pikul, awarding him with small reviews. And no spoilers!
Rating best books Valentine Pikulya
| Nomination | a place | composition | price |
| Rating best books Valentine Pikulya | 1 | I have the honor | 220 ₽ |
| 2 | Battle of Iron Chancellors | 228 ₽ | |
| 3 | Three Ages Okini-san | 272 ₽ | |
| 4 | Devilry | 272 ₽ | |
| 5 | Favorite | 746 ₽ | |
| 6 | Boys with bows | 248 ₽ | |
| 7 | Moonsund | 235 ₽ | |
| 8 | Requiem Caravan PQ-17 | 249 ₽ | |
| 9 | Hard labor | 210 ₽ | |
| 10 | Barbarossa | 478 ₽ |
I have the honor
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.9
Late historical novel of the writer, deservedly considered one of the most popular with Pikul. Two stories of one person are intertwined in it. And both of them are associated with serious military conflicts - the First and Second World Wars. “I have the honor” is not just a story of a soldier. This is the real confession of the tsarist, and then the Soviet intelligence officer without a name that fell into the hottest and most dangerous points of the First and Second World Wars.
The hero's path is intricate - from lawyers he gets into the General Staff, where he takes root, where he will work and practically live. A man undergoes many incidents, in fact, participates in key historical events of the Russian Empire and, then, of the Soviet Union. And simultaneously analyzes what happened, explaining it from his point of view. We will see how he studied and worked, looked for himself and thought about everything that happened and is happening around him.
The novel is surprisingly patriotic: in spite of all the wrangles that the hero falls into, he still believes in Russia and is devoted to her. And in spite of everything, he retains his honor. The Scout is smart and reasonable. Some even call him "Pikulevsky Stirlitz." In fact, it is a collective image of the ideal Russian officer, as it should be in the author's view.
Battle of Iron Chancellors
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.8
As Pikul himself wrote, this is a novel “without embellishment, without fiction and without lyrics”. The action of the book “The Battle of the Iron Chancellors” takes place in the second half of the 19th century. The novel revolves around the two "iron chancellors" of that time - the Russian Alexander Gorchakov and the German Otto von Bismarck. Both Chancellors have their own goal, leading to the prosperity of their Rodin.
The novel tells of the difficult diplomatic relations between Russia and other countries, the work of leading politicians and diplomats of the time. In particular, on the diplomatic duel of Bismarck and Gorchakov in an attempt to achieve their goals - a sharp, complex, multifaceted "battle." They have to compete and cooperate, give in and solve problems.And everyone eventually achieves the tasks.
Despite the formality of diplomatic relations, the heroes of the work cannot be called "wooden." They are living people with their own characteristics and attitudes. And it is therefore interesting to observe how they are forced to formulate each proposal with care and diplomatic subtlety in order to succeed. Especially considering the events that are happening around.
Three Ages Okini-san
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.7
This is a story of war, love and the terrible thing that can happen to a person during and after service in the fleet. The main character, Vladimir Kokovtsev, is a long way from the midshipman to the admiral and has seen a lot of things. The novel consists of three separate stories, "three ages." Each is marked by something important in the life not only of the main character, but of the whole of Russia as a whole.
The hero goes through many conflicts - from the Russian-Japanese war to the October Revolution. He finds love, but it seems that he is not destined to stay with her. He has a family, but it is unknown whether everything will be fine with her. He is actively building a career, but will she save him in his old age, on the verge of the October revolution? In general, the book describes the fate of an outstanding man, the admiral, with all the vicissitudes and sudden turns.
We’ll be watching not only Vladimir Kokovtsev, but also his “temporary wife,” Okini-san, whose fate is no less tragic and interesting. She, an ordinary citizen of Japan, and he, first an ordinary midshipman, and then a captain of the Russian fleet, during the Russian-Japanese war. Their lives sometimes diverge, then converge and intertwine again in different situations. And with a different outcome.
Devilry
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.7
The novel is dedicated to Grigory Efimovich Rasputin and the whole period, which was called “Rasputin”. But he covers not only him, but also the past until the end of the reign of Alexander III. Here there is the history of imperial power, and its agony in Russia shortly before the Revolution. However, Pikul too abruptly drove through the images of the ruling family, for which he was repeatedly criticized.
The novel tells about the last decades of the Russian Empire through Grigory Rasputin, the last favorite of the royal family and the “evil forces”, as many people then believed. Its influence on the processes and the Romanov family is shown. And not only on historical facts, but also through gossip a hundred years ago. The latter, by the way, is frankly fun to read if you are critical of such information.
It should be understood that the novel was written in Soviet times, when the image of Rasputin was used in a negative way for propaganda. Therefore no need to expect from the novel impartiality. The author does not sympathize with either the Romanov family or Rasputin himself, and this is noticeable. But the brightness of the language, the presentation and creation of an image of hopelessness and the coming tragedy (the Revolution), which still happens, it did not affect.
Favorite
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.6
The novel “Favorite” tells both about the then favorite of Catherine II, Grigory Potemkin, and about many other historical personalities and events. In fact, it is a chronicle of the reign of Catherine the Great. It consists of two volumes - "His Empress" and "His Taurida." The work reveals the main events of the second half of the 18th century. The work is fantastically worked out, down to the smallest facts that create the most complete picture of the time.
In the novel “Favorite” together with the count we will go from birth to death, through all historical events and difficult decisions. We will see battles and balls, life and thoughts. By right, this book is considered by many to be the best about that era. The image of Catherine the Great is traced most vividly and authentically. It shows everything that happens in that era. And not only positive facts, but also problems, mistakes and shortcomings of the time, about which the writer narrates.
Almost all the characters are real historical figures in the interpretation of Pikul. There is only one fictional character collecting all the characteristics of that time. In some situations, the writer interprets and embellishes the facts, but this does not make it any less interesting. Still, this is a novel, not documents.
Boys with bows
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.5
This is not just another novel writer. This is the autobiography of Valentine Pikul, in which he reflected himself as a teenager. And in heavy wartime. In this work, the fate and history of the writer is easily traced. But this is definitely a life-affirming novel with a certain degree of optimism.
In the work we are to see through the eyes of Savka Ogurtsov, the youngest junior of all. Despite his age, Savka is intelligent and reasonable, educated and has an incredible craving for learning. Even the difficulties of the school of youngsters do not discourage the teenager from learning to become and become, finally, a real cabin boy. Even at the end, when a matured Savka gets on a warship and says goodbye to the ideal ideas of war, he still has an amazing craving for new knowledge.
Savka - a student of the first set of the young USSR. Therefore, he will have to not only learn, but literally master the not yet invented education system and create a school in Solovki as it should be. In addition to training, we can observe the everyday life of students in a new school, from minor conflicts to real household and labor feats.
Moonsund
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.4
The patriotic novel Moonsund tells us about the bloody Moonsund battle, in which tens of thousands of Russian soldiers and officers were killed and captured by German troops. About those who to the last carried out a military duty and did not betray the country. In the novel, you can trace the idea of why the October Revolution happened. Although officially the book is not about that, but about the battles of the First World War and about the tragedy in a single archipelago.
The characters are quite lively and interesting, especially the main ones. In the work there is both love for the Motherland and ordinary, human feelings of two people. Yes, even the ships seem to be alive and actively participating in the story. Perhaps it was: after all, for a sailor his ship is not just a piece of iron afloat, but almost a personality. Especially in war, when life depends on a ship.
The book is not only good, positive characters. There are a lot of cowards and traitors here, both among ordinary soldiers and officers, and at the "top" in the government. Pikul is not trying to show the perfect picture of the battle. He writes about how it really was, with all the dirt and problems.
Requiem Caravan PQ-17
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.3
“Requiem on the PQ-17 Caravan” is one of the most famous works devoted to the Arctic convoys of the Second World War. Valentin Pikul himself called the work “documentary drama”. In it, he not only creatively presented historical facts, but turned them into a real tragedy of those who were directly involved in the caravan.
The work is dedicated to the polar convoy PQ-17, which was almost completely destroyed by Hitler’s aviation and the submarine fleet in an attempt to deliver equipment and cargo to the USSR. In the novel there is everything - the stories of transports that escaped death, and the desperate battles of those who could not get out, and excursions into the past ... In general, there is a lot of things. In the book, these facts are intertwined with fiction and are served under such a sauce that the reader really seems to become a participant in these events.
The main theme of the work is about the heroism of sailors who remained in the ice font or successfully reached the port of Arkhangelsk, and the horrors of war. Pikul writes about human fates - so different, but facing a terrible danger because of a command error.
Hard labor
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.2
This work is about the battle for survival under Japanese occupation on Sakhalin Island. Events took place during the Russian-Japanese war, when convicts and exiles were forced to fend off samurai of the Land of the Rising Sun. The novel speaks in light language about difficult events and facts that even undermined the author’s health (the writer suffered a heart attack while writing).
The main character is far from ideal and not a “good guy,” as is customary in such prose. He is a scoundrel, a criminal and a sly one. However, Pikul makes him look at it from a different angle when this person comes to defend the Motherland from invaders. Together with the regular military and convicts, he fights against the cruel and terrible Japanese soldiers, joining the uprising of the previously fragmented Sakhalin against the enemy.
But still the main part of the novel is devoted to penal servitude, as a historical fact. And the writer shows how terrible this phenomenon was. And we see not only Sakhalin for ordinary residents - creepy, heavy and killing. But bureaucratic arbitrariness, embezzlement and other problems that made life difficult for people.
Barbarossa
Book author: Valentin Savvich Pikul
Rating: 4.1
The last novel by Valentin Pikul. The writer worked on him until his death in 1991, but he did not manage to finish it. Only most of the first volume was written. But this does not make the already created material worse. This is a reflection novel in which the writer rethinks some events of the Great Patriotic War. But it is not just thinking, but describing the historical situation, the prerequisites and real events of that time.
Barbarossa is dedicated to the Battle of Stalingrad. But it goes far not only about her. In the work, the author will consider from his point of view the whole background of the war, its prerequisites and attempts to postpone. Lay out, as it seems to him, all the mistakes of command.
Some readers may not like the fact that the book is written in the spirit of the late 80s. That is, with the then-prevalent myths about the ruling elite and its failures, the terrible Stalin and so on. Unfortunately, only the first volume of the planned dilogy was written. The second, judging by the text, was supposed to clarify a lot in the author's vision. But the disease did not allow Pikul to finish the work.
Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.
