The First Circle

"The First Circle" is a novel by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn that depicts life inside a Soviet gulag research institute during the 1950s. It explores the moral dilemmas faced by scientists and intellectuals imprisoned for their beliefs or actions, highlighting the tension between personal integrity and survival under an oppressive regime. The story examines themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the struggle to maintain humanity amidst totalitarian control. Through its characters, the novel offers a profound reflection on the costs of resistance and the complex choices individuals make under authoritarian rule.