Episode Details

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was a prominent Russian writer and outspoken critic of the Soviet government whose work exposed the horrors of the Gulag labor camp system. After serving as a soldier during World War II, he was imprisoned for criticizing Joseph Stalin, an experience that fundamentally reshaped his spiritual and political beliefs. His landmark publications, such as The Gulag Archipelago and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature but eventually led to his forced exile. While living in the West, he remained a controversial figure due to his sharp critiques of secularism and consumer culture. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, he returned to his homeland to advocate for traditional Russian values and local self-governance. This source provides a comprehensive look at his biographical history, literary legacy, and his complex views on nationalism and religion.