The Zhivago Affair

The Zhivago Affair refers to the controversy surrounding Boris Pasternak's novel "Doctor Zhivago," published in 1957. The book, which critiques Soviet society, was banned in the USSR, prompting Pasternak to seek refuge for his work in the West. Despite such restrictions, the novel gained international acclaim and won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958. The affair highlights the tensions between artistic freedom and political repression, illustrating how literature can challenge oppressive regimes and resonate globally, even under censorship. This story emphasizes the power of the written word in the face of ideological constraints.