November 1916

For much of this novel, I was tempted to think you can after all have too much of a good thing. The historical details about the Kadet party was getting a bit much.

Then, we see Vorotyntsev having an affair. And this was disappointing to me as well, being the social conservative that I am. But then, Solzhenitsyn comes back, with a vivid portrayal of how devastated Vorotyntsev's wife is, when he confesses the affair to her. Its as powerful as the ending of Anna Karenina, and very appealing to a social conservative. You dream of 'life' with this romantic other that you've suddenly met? Look what it leads to, the despair of your life long partner (November 1916) and your own destruction into possessiveness and jealousy (Anna Karenina).