Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's Life and Works
There are many people who have accomplished great things in the world. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is one of those who made his mark in the world. He is famous because of his rebellious actions and outspoken commentary on the impact of Communism on Russia. He had a beneficial impact on the world with his life experiences and his writings.
Born in 1918, Solzhenitsyn grew up in Russia and lived to the age of 89. He moved to Rostov-on-Don when he was approximately four years old. His father passed away during the war before he was born, so his mother, a shorthand typist, took sole care of him. With a dream to be a writer, Solzhenitsyn tried really hard to get his work published. In the 1930s, he faced struggles to get his writing career started because no one would publish his writings. As a result, he delayed his writing to attend Rostov University, where he studied mathematics and physics.
After time passed, Solzhenitsyn still had a passion for writing, so he broadened his knowledge and studied literary education in hopes to expand on a his writing career. He joined the military in 1939 when World War II broke out. Solzhenitsyn was an artillery captain and worked on his books. This is when he wrote about Stalin’s concentration camps. Stalin was the general secretary of the Communist Party and was not pleased about this publication, so Solzhenitsyn was imprisoned and put into Kazakhstan, a labor camp for eight years. After he was released from The Gulag prison, he decided to write a book about his experience within the camps. This book, The Gulag Archipelago, talked about his experiences in the camp system. He was described as a “dangerous element. The book’s publication certainly contributed to the recognition of human rights as a legitimate element of international debate and foreign policy”. He was a brave man who stood solid and firm for his beliefs and brought worldwide awareness of the current issues in Russia. Solzhenitsyn also helped teach math and physics after his release.
While Solzhenitsyn was imprisoned in Kazakhstan, he developed cancer. He was near death when he got out of prison. He went through procedures and survived the illness. As most of his books come from his life experiences, his cancer inspired him to write the book, Cancer Ward. He later struggled to publish the book and got denied due to anti-Soviet implications.
Solzhenitsyn accomplished many things in his life. He beat cancer, wrote famous books, and received a Nobel Prize. His most popular books are Cancer Ward, The Gulag Archipelago, and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Later in his life, he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature 'for the ethical force with which he has pursued the indispensable traditions of Russian literature'. His famous works were outstanding contributions to literature. When he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1970, he was unable to travel to accept the prize based on his fear of not being able to re-enter the Soviet Union. However, in 1974, his citizenship was revoked and he was exiled from the Soviet Union. His writings were censored and he served time in jail for what was considered as disrespect to the Communist Soviet Politician, Stalin. His life experiences are one of the major influences in his writings.
Solzhenitsyn, was a novelist, historian, and short story writer. Although he passed away in 2008, his works still influence our culture today. Academics and politicians were happy to have Solzhenitsyn in the West against Communism. He received honorary degrees, and prizes, and was provided opportunities to give speeches the American Cold Warrior hoped would be fuel for an ideological victory. He was indifferent, even hostile, to the Western cult of celebrity. Solzhenitsyn’s candidacy, intellect, and worldview of the West are insightful, particularly through his “Men Have Forgotten God” analysis. His literary accomplishments provided awareness regarding the camps and confronted directly the problems with Communism and Marxism. He spoke boldly that communism is founded on atheism.
