Boris Pasternak

Boris Pasternak (1890–1960) was a Russian poet, novelist, and translator whose novel Doctor Zhivago won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Doctor Zhivago: Boris Pasternak’s novel follows physician and poet Yuri Zhivago through the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. The novel brought Pasternak international fame and the 1958 Nobel Prize.
Faust: Faust is Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s dramatic poem about a scholar who makes a pact with the devil. Pasternak’s Russian translation of Goethe’s tragedy became one of his major translation projects.
Nobel Prize in Literature: The Nobel Prize in Literature is an annual award honoring outstanding work in literature. Pasternak received the 1958 prize for his poetry and Doctor Zhivago.
Marina Tsvetaeva: Marina Tsvetaeva was a Russian poet known for emotionally intense verse and distinctive rhythms. Tsvetaeva and Pasternak exchanged letters and admired each other’s poetry.
Samizdat: Samizdat was the clandestine copying and circulation of censored writing in the Soviet Union. Unlike samizdat, Doctor Zhivago first circulated through official foreign publishing channels.
Russian poetry: Russian poetry is a literary tradition spanning verse in the Russian language across many periods and styles. Pasternak first established his reputation as a poet.
Hamlet: Hamlet is William Shakespeare’s tragedy about the Danish prince seeking to avenge his father’s murder. Pasternak translated the play into Russian, and its concerns resonated with his own writing.
Nobel Prize controversy: The 1958 Nobel Prize controversy centered on Pasternak’s award, Soviet pressure, and his withdrawal from accepting it. The Soviet campaign against Pasternak followed the Nobel announcement.
Osip Mandelstam: Osip Mandelstam was a Russian poet persecuted under Stalin, whose work became central to modern Russian literature. Mandelstam’s fate contrasts with Pasternak’s survival under Soviet repression.
Andrei Zhdanov: Andrei Zhdanov was a Soviet politician who directed cultural policy and promoted ideological conformity in the arts. Zhdanov’s cultural doctrine represents the state orthodoxy Pasternak’s work resisted.

Linked from 12 pages