The Kindly Ones: Stalingrad, The Harpies, and the Horror of History (with Tom Flynn)

Tom Flynn returns to The Big Book Project to continue our group read of Jonathan Littell’s The Kindly Ones—this time tackling pages 333–427, a harrowing descent into the frozen siege of Stalingrad.

Lori and Tom unpack the disturbing realism and psychological depth of the novel, exploring themes of unreliable narration, classical tragedy, and the machinery of fascist ideology. They ask hard questions: Is Littell's depiction of atrocity exploitative or essential? Is Max Aue a symbol of something broader, or simply a singular horror? And what’s up with Thomas, the ever-present shadow who might be more demon than man?This episode covers:

• The blurring line between realism and myth
• The moral calculus of depicting violence
• The absurdity of racial classification
• The literary brilliance—and disturbing ambition—of Littell’s prose

Whether you’re trudging through this novel with us or watching from a safe distance, this is a deep and thoughtful exploration of one of the most unsettling books of the 21st century.

If you’re reading along with us, we’d love to hear your thoughts—on the Substack drop a comment, or tag us on Instagram @thebigbookproject with your biggest questions or takeaways.
And if you're enjoying the podcast, leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow reader who isn’t afraid of the dark stuff.

00:00 – Intro & Tom’s return
01:00 – Why The Kindly Ones is stranger than expected
04:00 – Authorial intent & American backlash
06:30 – Can we feel empathy for Max? Should we?
08:00 – The unreliable narrator problem
11:00 – Max’s psychology & his “internal flood”
14:00 – The pacing, horror, and lyricism of Littell’s prose
17:00 – Stalingrad as hell on earth
20:00 – Thomas as twin, demon, or doppelgänger
25:00 – Greek tragedy, The Kindly Ones, and fate
28:00 – The absurdity of fascist logic
32:00 – Honig’s horrifying medical research
36:00 – The spiritual death of the Nazi army
40:00 – Problem’s Marxist critique of Nazi ideology
43:00 – Why write this book?
47:00 – Is Max a symbol—or just a damaged man?
50:00 – Wrapping up & what's ahead