History Daily Boris Pasternak Wins The Nobel Prize
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Oct 23, 2025 Discover the dramatic tale of Boris Pasternak, who won the Nobel Prize for his novel, Doctor Zhivago, only to be pressured by the Soviet Union to refuse it. Uncover the backstory of his life, including a chilling call from Stalin and the role of his muse, Olga Ivinskaya. Learn how his manuscript was smuggled out of the USSR and the CIA's covert efforts to distribute it. The turmoil surrounding his award leads to a historic public renunciation, setting the stage for posthumous recognition decades later.
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Nobel News At The Cottage
- Boris Pasternak receives news that Dr. Zhivago won the Nobel Prize and is stunned by journalists at his cottage.
- His wife fears the award will bring danger because the book was banned in the USSR and critical of the regime.
Love, Muse, And Persecution
- Pasternak works under Stalin-era terror yet still writes an epic about Russia, inspired by Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.
- He completes Dr. Zhivago after falling in love with Olga Ivinskaya, who becomes his muse and is later arrested and sent to a labor camp.
Manuscript Smuggled Across The Iron Curtain
- Pasternak smuggles his finished manuscript out with the help of Italian scout Sergio D'Angelo who promises to keep it safe.
- The CIA later prints Russian copies and uses World's Fair volunteers to smuggle Dr. Zhivago back into the USSR.
