Alexander Solzhenitsyn was one of the 20th century’s most influential writers. Early in his life, the Russian novelist was a passionate believer in Soviet communism. After spending time as a prisoner in the Soviet gulags, however, he became disillusioned and used his literary talent to expose the Soviet Union’s corruption. Later, while in exile in the United States, he also rejected what he saw as the moral failings of democracy. He eventually returned to Russia and died in Moscow. Listen to learn more about the life of this controversial writer and the impact his work had on perceptions of the Soviet system.
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The Communist Revolution in the Soviet Union led to a totalitarian dictatorship that killed or imprisoned tens of millions of people. It was a period of cruelty that has not been forgotten in Russia today. However, some former Communist rulers are still in current-day Russia’s government, which means there’s a complicated relationship with the Soviet past and bringing back some Soviet-era practices. Listen to this story to understand how Russia’s Communist past still plays a role in present-day politics.
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