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Diane S ☔'s Reviews > The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book
The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book
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Dr. Zhivago is one of my husbands favorite movies, a very unusual pick for him because he usually likes ironic comedies. I remember reading this in school but had no idea of the history behind the novel nor of the man who wrote it.
This is a non fiction book that reads in may ways as a thriller. The fate of many of the writers under Stalin was very oppressive, although Russians had a great love of poetry, if that which was written was thought not to be in the service of Soviet politics their fates were set. The author writes, "After 1917, nearly 1500 writers in the Soviet Union were executed or died in labor camps for various alleged infractions." Pasternak himself, somehow escaped this fate.
In wanting to leave a legacy, he began writing Zhivago, a semi autobiographical novel, that would take him over ten years. In the end it was deemed by the Soviet Union, unpublishable so it was given to an Italian publisher to publish and translate and circulate throughout foreign coup tries. It would become a weapon used by the CIA, propaganda for a warning about the Cold War.
There are many parts to this story and I felt that the authors did an outstanding job, following them all and keeping the book moving fluidly throughout. His messy home life is examined as is his writing career. One item I marked as amusing was how he and Nabokov felt about each other, they w3re less than impressed by the writing of the other.
A book well worth reading and one I will now pass on to my husband.
ARC from publisher.
This is a non fiction book that reads in may ways as a thriller. The fate of many of the writers under Stalin was very oppressive, although Russians had a great love of poetry, if that which was written was thought not to be in the service of Soviet politics their fates were set. The author writes, "After 1917, nearly 1500 writers in the Soviet Union were executed or died in labor camps for various alleged infractions." Pasternak himself, somehow escaped this fate.
In wanting to leave a legacy, he began writing Zhivago, a semi autobiographical novel, that would take him over ten years. In the end it was deemed by the Soviet Union, unpublishable so it was given to an Italian publisher to publish and translate and circulate throughout foreign coup tries. It would become a weapon used by the CIA, propaganda for a warning about the Cold War.
There are many parts to this story and I felt that the authors did an outstanding job, following them all and keeping the book moving fluidly throughout. His messy home life is examined as is his writing career. One item I marked as amusing was how he and Nabokov felt about each other, they w3re less than impressed by the writing of the other.
A book well worth reading and one I will now pass on to my husband.
ARC from publisher.
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Reading Progress
April 2, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 2, 2014
– Shelved
June 17, 2014
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Started Reading
June 17, 2014
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0.0%
"How can one not read a book that starts with," With sole access to otherwise classified CIA files, the authors give us an irresistible portrait of the charming, passionate, and complex Pasternak, and a literary thriller that takes readers back to a period of the cold War, when literature had the power to stir the world.""
June 18, 2014
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8.0%
June 19, 2014
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12.0%
June 19, 2014
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12.0%
June 22, 2014
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15.0%
June 22, 2014
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20.0%
June 24, 2014
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25.0%
June 26, 2014
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25.0%
June 26, 2014
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Finished Reading
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Heather
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Jun 28, 2014 07:43AM
Now I can't wait to read this, Diane!
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Sounds like a book a MUST read. Really helpful review. Thank you, Diane.
Thanks Chrissie and Heather. Yes, one of my favorite non fiction books, this year.
An excellent overview and commentary on "The Zhivago Affair." Thank you, Diane. I just started reading it.
Diane, it is a good book. Well documented. You read a summary but only until you know all the details do your really understand the furor and the emotions of all involved. By reading this book you understand other books more too; I understand why Ayn Rand write what she wrote, for example. Nothing happens in a vacuum.
It was very eye opening for me, all the politics and how everyone used everyone else. That the CIA would use this book as a political weapon is mind boggling. Yes, it does help us understand how hard it is four some to get published and even written and the courage of these authors, men and woman. Glad you are liking it'
I do like it. Even though thorough research clearly has been done, I end up with unanswered questions. I am going to go write a review soon.
