zoom_in Click to enlarge

Boris Pasternak

▲ ▼

description Boris Pasternak Overview

Boris Pasternak was a prominent 20th-century Russian novelist and poet. He is best known for his novel Doctor Zhivago, which explored themes of love, loyalty, and societal upheaval during the Russian Revolution. Despite facing censorship from the Soviet Union, Pasternak received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958. His work remains significant within literary circles and continues to be studied by those interested in Russian history and literature.

help Boris Pasternak FAQ

Did Boris Pasternak win the Nobel Prize for Doctor Zhivago?

Yes, Pasternak was awarded the 1958 Nobel Prize in Literature, largely on the strength of Doctor Zhivago. However, under intense pressure from Soviet authorities, he was forced to decline the prize.

Why was Doctor Zhivago banned in the Soviet Union?

Doctor Zhivago was banned in the USSR because Soviet authorities viewed its independent spirit and refusal to toe socialist-realist lines as subversive. The novel was first published in Italian translation in 1957 and only appeared in the USSR in the late 1980s under glasnost.

Who directed the Doctor Zhivago movie?

David Lean directed the 1965 film adaptation, starring Omar Sharif as Yuri Zhivago and Julie Christie as Lara. The film won five Academy Awards and features Maurice Jarre's famous 'Lara's Theme.'

Was Boris Pasternak a poet as well as a novelist?

Yes, Pasternak was regarded in Russia primarily as one of its greatest 20th-century poets, and his poetry often overshadowed his prose within his homeland. His poem collection My Sister, Life (1917) is considered a landmark of Russian lyric verse.