How the Steel Was Tempered
How the Steel Was Tempered is a largely autobiographical novel by Nikolai Ostrovsky, first serialised in the Soviet magazine Young Guard (Molodaya Gvardiya) in 1932 and 1934, then issued as a revised book in 1936. It follows Pavel Korchagin through the Civil War and his later illness.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First published
- Molodaya Gvardiya (magazine serial), 1932
How the Steel Was Tempered by Nikolai Ostrovsky was first published in 1932. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- International1937 Hardback I own The Making of a Hero, International 1937 Log in to want this
- Secker & Warburg1937 Hardback I own The Making of a Hero, Secker & Warburg 1937 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- How the Steel Was Tempered film, 1942
- Pavel Korchagin film, 1956
- How the Steel Was Tempered film, 1975
- How the Steel Was Tempered television series, 1999
In print
- Editions recorded
- 96 on Open Library, 27 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 29 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
Pictures of the book
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Freely licensed pictures of the work. They are not necessarily the edition you hold: check the points on each edition's page.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of How the Steel Was Tempered are there?
We track 2 editions of How the Steel Was Tempered. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has How the Steel Was Tempered been adapted?
Yes, including How the Steel Was Tempered (television series, 1999), How the Steel Was Tempered (film, 1975), Pavel Korchagin (film, 1956), according to Wikidata.
When was How the Steel Was Tempered first published?
How the Steel Was Tempered by Nikolai Ostrovsky was first published in 1932.
Where these facts come from
- How the Steel Was Tempered, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Kak zakalyalas stal, CAPONEU (Canon and Popular Novels in Europe) (caponeu.eu)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.