What has not already been said about this work? It’s a book it’s famously an epic David Lean film. Reading it for the first time the films images and music constantly draw comparisons. This is a 1960 edition and the first English translation, which makes some of the text seem a bit awkward. The “Dr Zhivago” poems are in a section at the end.
The story follows Yuri Zhivago, Lara and others through the exceptionally traumatic history of twentieth century Russia from Tsarist times, through revolutions, war and civil war to the Stalinist era. The narrator is his half-brother.
The text offers much more description of life and events, more characters and plot diversions than the streamlined film. This textual density is reflected in the tone and spiritual implications of the film. The nature writing particularly is loaded with irrepressible life force, individuality and spiritual/religious significance. Human feelings and emotions are contrasted with the brutal forces of political doctrine and desperation. Idealism, creativity and love are Yuri’s resort and inner life. Lara seems to embody these values for him. She maintains her personal integrity through succeeding challenges, when many for overwhelming reasons do not. Their connection, possibly to be taken for granted in peaceful times and places is only allowed to flourish for a short time. Doomed love.
A first novel written by a poet under circumstances of heavy censorship and penalty. Some of the explanations of events are couched in a wrenched political jargon that must have tried to pay lip service to political requirements, whilst clearly exasperated with them and is now stepping on and over those limits wilfully. Dr Zhivago was a Samizdat, or clandestine novel after being banned inside the USSR/Russia, Pasternak was awarded a Nobel prize. The writer and his family suffered as a result. Then the west pounced on the propaganda value of the novel, which has acquired its own history.
Despite the surrounding noise and compromises the story is a remarkable testimony of a human response to chaos and terror. It exposes the charades and essential unreality of total politics. Above all it asserts a faith in human joy, love and being. Pasternak wrote staring at the face of terror and dared to suggest freedom. The provocations and the need to continually renew the response continue. Anyone who values freedom can identify with Yuri’s plight and those he represents. Read it as it is handing you a gift.
Mark's Reviews 