The Mother (tr. Willett)

Palagea Vlassova is drawn by her son Pavel into the revolutionary movement. Though hostile to it at first, she refuses to let him distribute leaflets, preferring to run the risk herself. She takes part in a peaceful demonstration, where Pavel is arrested; she learns to read, helps striking peasants, and works an illegal press. Pavel escapes from Siberia, but is caught and shot. Palagea is beaten for protesting against the 1914 war and finishes by carrying the red flag in a huge anti-war demonstration in the winter of 1916.