Alexander Solzhenitsyn dead

One of the most important novelists in Russia in XX century Alexander Solzhenitsyn, is dead. Through his own and other victims accounts of the communist terror  Solzhenitsyn’s novels and nonfiction works exposed the secret history of the communist system that enslaved millions. Beginning with the 1962 short novel “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich,” Solzhenitsyn devoted himself to describing the evils of communism. His “Gulag Archipelago” trilogy of the 1970s shocked Western readers by describing the savagery of the Soviet system, helping to erase sympathy for the Soviet Union among many leftist intellectuals. He did not compromise, he told the truth and expected other to do the same. For this and for his “ethical force” Solzhenitsy was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. In 1974 he was arrested on a treason charge and expelled to West in handcuffs. Living in America Solzhenitsyn tried to encourage West to fight the evil system of communism, but became more and more disappointed by Western moral relatevism. His criticizm Western culture for what he considered its weakness and decadence did not win him friends here either.  

After a triumphant return from exile in 1994 after collapse of communism Solzhenitsyn expressed annoyance and disappointment that most Russians hadn’t read his books. He was right: when Russians have done it, they have really condemned communism and build probably better Russia. Solzhenitsyn was ofcourse man with contradictions. As another famous Russian novelist Dostojevsky he was firm Russian nationalist and devoted Orthodox, condemning in harsh words by example independence of Ukraine. His role in fall of communism, his courage and moral stand make nevertheless from him one of the greatest Russians in history.