Aleksander Solzhenitsyn dies at 89.

[Barack_America]

Source: BBC News

Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who exposed Stalin's prison system in his novels and spent 20 years in exile, has died at 89, Russian media say.

The author of One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich and the Gulag Archipelago, who returned to Russia in 1994, reportedly died of a stroke.

The Nobel laureate had suffered from high blood pressure in recent years.

After returning to Russia, Solzhenitsyn wrote several polemics on Russian history and identity.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7540038.stm

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Everyone's got that one book they make all their friends read, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is mine.

Godspeed to a fine author.

[Trajan]

1. I read the Gulag Archepelago in my early 20's ....

What a horrid experience ...

RIP Alex ....

[Quakerfriend]

2. RIP, gentle spirit, you shall not be forgotten.

[LeftishBrit]

3. RIP.

[nytemare]

4. I thought he had been gone a while...

I remember reading "One Day in the Life" in school. That, along with the Diary of Anne Frank were books that truly made me not take small things for granted.

RIP, Alexander.

[TrogL]

36. I just found my copy of "one life" in a box of books I was unpacking

[Faygo Kid]

5. Ohmigod. This one of the all-time great writers. Ever. In world history.

This man could write. He was the Joseph Conrad of his generation. He moved me. The hell with his politics; he was one of the best.

[Frank Cannon]

17. Agreed. He was a phenomenal writer.

He had the ability to describe miserable circumstances and depressing events in an oddly energizing way. You didn't feel sorry for his protagonists; you wanted to fight along with them and see how they survived. "One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich" is one of the greatest books I've ever read.

[mitchum]

29. He was a phenomenal writer; sardonic,vividly descriptive,compelling

Just as phenomenal was, that in the 70s, he was delivered into the American conscousness by way of the popular culture machine.
A real writer helalded by that cooing, flashing,tension-building road show. The last time that happened was just a few years later with John Irving upon the publicatuion of "Garp"

The NYC mid 80s brats certainly got a lot of hype, but it was restricted to a tighter (smaller) audience

[Hardrada]

6. I read all his works as they were available and was waiting for

the end of the cycle of books that began with "1914." Excellent and grim views from inside Stalin's empire. A lot of great sardonic Russian humor too even in the Gulag books, the sort of humor needed to survive gruesome times.

[LBJDemocrat]

7. RIP

He'll be remembered.

[PCIntern]

8. I happen to know his son,

he's a conductor/pianist in Philly here - conducts the Chamber Orchestra. A gentle soul himself and brilliant.

Many here do not know of the effect of his father's writings upon the world. Remarkable...

[Botany]

9. What a talent

[Thothmes]

10. Ivan Denisovich (sic) RIP

[Canuckistanian]

11. Amazing that he died at such a ripe old age

He was the ultimate survivor.

He lived a miserable life filled with threats against his life, both in war and in the Soviet Gulags.

But he left a legacy of victory against authoritarianism that will survive, if anyone pays attention to his message.

[Norrin Radd]

12. Peace to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

[JerseygirlCT]

13. Yes. nt

[otherlander]

14. :(

He stood against the tyranny of both east and west. RIP.

[bemildred]

15. RIP. You will not be forgotten.

A true Russian.

[Barack_America]

16. Indeed. nt

[rug]

18. "How can you expect a man who's warm to understand a man who's cold?"

That line has haunted me for years.

[bluevoter4life]

19. Aleksander Solzhenitsyn dies at 89

Source: BBC

The author of The Gulag Archipelago and One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich, who returned to Russia in 1994, died of either a stroke or heart failure.

The Nobel laureate had suffered from high blood pressure in recent years.

After returning to Russia, Solzhenitsyn wrote several polemics on Russian history and identity.

His son Stepan was quoted by one Russian news agency as saying his father died of heart failure, while another agency quoted literary sources as saying he had suffered a stroke.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7540038.stm

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The world has lost a great and brave individual. You will be missed. RIP.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. OMG! K&R. We've lost another hero, I agree...

;(

[tsuki]

21. You will live forever as you Rest in Peace. nt

[StarfishParable]

22. Death of Solzhenitsyn

I read Gulag when it came out. It was a little tedious be the message was chilling.

He led a good a productive life. He actually lived in the States for awhile in the 70s...I think upstate NY or Vermont. I would like to hear what he has said more recently about Putin and the state of Mother Russia today!

[Zomby Woof]

27. Perhaps he told Putin himself

From June 12, 2007:



Solzhenitsyn called for Russia to reclaim its Orthodox Christian heritage, which is exactly what Putin and his new puppet have been making strides towards doing. Although Solzhenitsyn is to be admired for enduring an unimaginable Hell on Earth for so many years and writing about it with great depth and clarity, I am not sure his vision is exactly one we should embrace either.

[cali]

33. He lived in Cavendish Vermont for nearly 20 years

where he was treated with great respect and left alone.

[David__77]

23. A truly backward man, but may he rest in peace.

His message was reactionary.

[wtmusic]

25. Yep another backward Nobel Prize winner

I might be a little reactionary after 8 years in the gulag. How 'bout you?

[David__77]

28. Yeah, Kissenger got a Peace Prize too.

...big whoop.

[DrCory]

39. In What Regard Reactionary? N/T

[AnnieBW]

26. Wow...

I was a Russian major in college, and took a course on Solzhenitsyn my senior year. A bunch of us wanted to road-trip to Vermont to visit his compound. :D He was a great man.

[LanternWaste]

35. It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes...

It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes... we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions - especially selfish ones.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn



kick

[Jack Rabbit]

24. .

Radical Currency

[DeepModem Mom]

30. K&R

[Tektonik]

31. RIP

I had the great experience of doing a term paper in HS on his works. We've lost the best writer of the last century imo.

[DemEyeDick]

32. RIP

I just finished re-reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich earlier this summer. I have always been moved by Solzhenistsyn's ability to describe the suffering and misery, and just as Frank Cannon mentioned above, made you want to fight along side the protagonists to overturn the system. We all die sometime, and that is a fact but some men like Solzhenistsyn will live on forever through their works.

[Algorem]

34. zz top wannabe

[Vidar]

37. RIP, Mr. Solzhenitsyn. May your next existence be a more pleasant one.

[The Croquist]

38. He outlived the Soviet Union

Hopefully that gave him some satisfaction.