The House I Live In

Two families—the Davydovs and the newlyweds Dmitry and Lida Kashirin—move into a communal apartment on the outskirts of Moscow. The Davydovs have three children, and the crowded life in close quarters fosters intimate loyalties, petty resentments, and shared secrets. This living arrangement sets the stage for the moral questions and relationships that drive the story.

Lida Kashirina feels no love for her husband, a geologist frequently away on expeditions. Her emotional distance thickens as their home becomes a place of routine rather than warmth. The strain hints at the fractures that will ripple through the family.

During Dmitry's absence, Konstantin Davydov visits the family and becomes romantically involved with Lida. Guilt soon gnaws at Lida, threatening the fragile balance of the household. Konstantin's mother, Klavdia Kondratyevna, condemns the affair, intensifying social pressure.

Lida wrestles with guilt as secrecy and social judgment close in. When Dmitry returns, he is oblivious to the marital crisis, struggling to understand Lida's sudden urge to leave. The family’s trust frays, and loyalties collide as the rift widens.

Dmitry's return brings confusion rather than clarity; he cannot see the emotional rift that has grown in his absence. He searches for rational reasons behind Lida's desire to depart, while Lida contemplates leaving for good. The couple remains estranged, their bond slowly dissolving.

Sergey Davydov harbors a crush on his childhood friend Galya Volynskaya, who dreams of becoming an actress. Her ambitions create tension within the tight-knit community as people pursue different futures. Sergey's inner life contrasts with the growing ambition of those around him, setting up intertwined fates.

Galya seeks guidance from a former actress to prepare for theater school, edging closer to her dream. This pursuit sharpens the group's dynamics and tests loyalties. The lure of stage life glints against the plain realities of their communal life.

Inspired by Dmitry Kashirin's resilience, Sergey develops a serious interest in geology, imagining a future built on science. He begins to look beyond the immediate orbit of the communal apartment toward broader horizons. The seed of a new path is planted as the decade draws to a close.

World War II interrupts the quiet routines of the commune and pulls everyone onto a larger stage. Dmitry Kashirin and Pavel Davydov do not survive the war, while Konstantin returns disabled. The conflict rewires relationships and priorities, forcing hard choices.

Sergey returns from the front as a war hero, bearing the marks of conflict. He learns that Galya, the dreamer he treasured, has been killed. The losses, both personal and collective, leave the family permanently changed.

After the war, Sergey enrolls in a geology institute, turning his experiences into study and a new vocation. He begins to chart a path forward through science while his family starts to rebuild their lives. The postwar period marks a shift toward education, work, and renewed identity.

Konstantin remains devoted and hopes Lida can forgive herself and perhaps return his love. Klavdia Kondratyevna softens toward Lida, signaling a cautious thaw in old tensions. The narrative hints at a fragile path toward healing and renewed connection.

The communal family begins to rebuild, learning to live with past wounds while forging new routines. Old resentments fade as shared work and memory knit them together again. The chapter closes with a sense of renewal, even if the future remains unsettled.

Amid the changing era, the characters' identities, purposes, and moral compasses continue to be negotiated. The story ends with cautious optimism as Moscow moves into the postwar era and the survivors look toward uncertain but hopeful futures.