Boris Pasternak
Awards: Nobel Prize in Literature in
1958
Born: 10/02/1890 in Moscow, USSR which is
present day Russia in a wealthy Jewish family
Death: 30/05/1960 at Peredelkino, USSR
in Lung Cancer
Language: Russian
Nationality: Russian
Boris Pasternak's father was a Painter and
mother was a concert pianist. The famous writer Leo Tolstoy was a
family friend and often there were mutual visits. Boris's father used
to draw illustrations for Tolstoy's novels and particularly for his
novel Resurrection. The whole house was under the
influence of Tolstoy. Thus, the young man grew up in a literary &
artistic ambience.
As a student, Boris went to the
University in Marburg, Germany to pursue a Doctorate in Philosophy but
left midway for Moscow upon outbreak of First World War.
While in Marburg, a girl from Moscow, Ida
Vysotskaya, who was a school acquaintance, went to Boris and declared
her love. This had inspired him to write the poem "Marburg" . However,
the girl's family opposed the marriage because Boris was not
financially sound. Another failed marriage in 1917 pained him to write
"My Sister", "Life". After October,1917 Revolution,
though many of Pasternak's friends and relatives left Russia, Boris
chose to stay back.
In 1921, My Sister, Life were
published and brought a sensation in literary circles because of
unique style, allusion used in poems and created many young followers.
When Stalin came to power in 1929, there were
drastic changes in power equations. Stalin was a ruthless dictator and
suppressed all opposition. Mandelstam who was a friend of Boris wrote
against Stalin. Boris advised him to destroy the writing but some how
the matter got leaked and Mandelstam was arrested. Boris fervently
tried to de-link his name till he received a direct phone call from
Stalin who wanted to find out the reaction of writer community to the
arrest of Mandelstam. Boris fumbled and lied and appealed Stalin for
pardon till the line was cut off. During the Great Purge, many writers
were executed. His friend Tabidze was executed and Marina Tsvetaeva
committed suicide which devastated Pasternak. For some strange reason,
Stalin let off Pasternak telling his men not to touch the cloud
dweller (which means leave that holy fool alone)
Pasternak's masterpiece was Dr Zhivago which
was completed only in 1956 and was secretly handed over to a Western
Publishing House. In November,1957, the novel was released and created
a sensation In 1958, Nobel Prize was given which infuriated the Soviet
regime which forced him not to receive the prize.
The cable made by Pasternak read thus--"In
view of the meaning given the award by the society in which I live, I
must renounce this undeserved distinction which has been conferred on
me. Please do not take my voluntary renunciation amiss." The Swedish
Academy announced: "This refusal, of course, in no way alters the
validity of the award. There remains only for the Academy, however, to
announce with regret that the presentation of the Prize cannot take
place."
According to his son, Yevgenii Pasternak, "I
couldn’t recognize my father when I saw him that evening. Pale,
lifeless face, tired painful eyes, and only speaking about the same
thing: 'Now it all doesn’t matter, I declined the Prize"
During the last phase of his life, Pasternak
wrote of love, reconciliation and God in his poems.
Major Influence: William Shakespeare, Leo
Tolstoy
Major Works: My Sister,Life(1922),
Safe Conduct(1931),Selected Poems(1946), Essay in
Autobiography(1956), Dr Zhivago(1957),
When the Weather Clears(1959)
Order Boris
Pasternak's Books below
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