Pasternak, Boris

Doctor Zhivago [Russian Revolution, Soviet Union] [Nobel Prize]

New York: Modern Library, [Random House], [1966]. A Modern Library Giant G-86. Translated from the Russian by Max Hayward and Manya Harari. Hardcover with Dust Jacket.

The bindings are tight and square. Text is clean; light, even age-toning. Minimal shelf handling wear. Previous owner's name scribbled-out on the front free endpage. The dust jacket has wear with small losses on the bottom edge, Evenly age-toned. c1966 determined by dust jacket. [Toledono p171]

Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago, first published in Italy in 1957, is a significant 20th-century novel that blends historical fiction, romance, and philosophical themes. Set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, it explores love, identity, and the resilience of the human spirit during a period of intense political and social upheaval.

The novel explores the tension between individualism and collectivism, showcasing how political ideologies affect personal lives. The love story between Yuri and Lara serves as a powerful contrast to the era’s ideological fervor, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and artistic expression. The narrative's fragmented structure, incorporating poetry, mirrors the chaotic nature of life during political turmoil.

Doctor Zhivago was banned in the Soviet Union for its perceived anti-revolutionary themes, but it earned international acclaim, with Pasternak receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958. Despite its praise for lyrical prose and complex characters, some critics noted its reliance on coincidences and passive characters.

Subjects: Russian Revolution, Soviet Union, Love and War, Individualism, Historical Fiction, Romance, Philosophy.

Item #20704

Price: $24.00