Alexander Solzhenitsyn dies aged 89

Monsters and Critics ^ | 3rd August 2008 | Monsters and Critics

[the scotsman]

'Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Nobel prize winner for literature who was exiled from the Soviet Union and graphically portrayed life in Soviet labour camps, was dead at age 89, the news agency Interfax reported early Monday.

The agency quoted literary circles in the Russian capital.

The world famous writer and historian had not been seen in public for months. He died from the aftermath of a stroke, according to unconfirmed information.'

[tired1]

A loss to us all>

[Ronin]

I am going to watch with interest to see how Russia handles this.

[Old Sarge]

Has Snopes debunked his writing yet?

[Alex Murphy]

'Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Nobel prize winner for literature who was exiled from the Soviet Union and graphically portrayed life in Soviet labour camps, was dead at age 89, the news agency Interfax reported early Monday.

Ping

[Alberta's Child]

One of the most remarkable figures of the 20th Century.

[Alter Kaker]

Solzhenytsin: right on the Communists, wrong on the Jews.

[tet68]

To all those still at sea.....

[Carley]

He tried to warn us but we knew better.

More’s the pity.

Anyone want a good idea of what life in the soviet union was really like, just read First Circle.

[KantianBurke]

RIP

[Borges]

Are you implying Snopes is misguided in their stated quest? I find them pretty accurate.

[stevem]

It’s hard to find the right words to describe such a character. Most superlatives used in the attempt will seem insipid.

[hanamizu]

Before I read Solzhenitsyn, I was a typical addled-brained liberal. I forget which book of his I read first, likely “A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”. But after reading the Gulag, I realized that the reactionary conservatives were right about the Soviet Union and I and other “progressives’ were dead wrong. The man’s writings were a tremendous influence on my life. His impact on Russia and the world has been truly profound.

[TheWasteLand]

What horrible news. He was a remarkable man, a hero and an inspiration. RIP.

[A knight without armor]

Whenever I answer the question of what book influenced me the most I always say The Gulag Archipelago by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. I read it when it first came out. I learned SO MUCH.

[denydenydeny]

One of the great Russian novelists, a man who IMO deserves a place alongside Tolstoy and Dostoevsky and Turgenev.

I remember being thrilled to talk to people in Cavendish, VT who had met him.

[The KG9 Kid]

Snopes' agenda shines through from time to time.

"Undetermined" is a key indicator.

[Harrius Magnus]

why?

[LibWhacker]

A great man — until he started hating America.

[Lurker]

And another great one leaves us.

L