Doctor Zhivago

Interesting Facts

• The novel was written between 1945 and 1955, but due to political censorship in the Soviet Union, it could not be published in the author's homeland.
• The first edition of the novel was published in Italy in 1957 thanks to the efforts of Italian publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.
• In 1958, Boris Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for this novel, but he was forced to decline the award under pressure from Soviet authorities.
• The novel covers the period from the early 20th century to World War II, describing the events of the October Revolution and the Russian Civil War.
• The main character, Yuri Zhivago, is a doctor and poet, and his fate intertwines with the destinies of many other characters against the backdrop of historical events.
• The novel devotes significant attention to philosophical and religious reflections, making it not only a historical but also a deeply personal work.
• One of the key themes of the novel is the conflict between personal freedom and social obligations, reflected in the fates of the main characters.
• The novel has been adapted into films several times, with the most famous adaptation released in 1965 by director David Lean, winning five Academy Awards.