One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich: (50th Anniversary Edition) (Signet Classics)

One assumes that those who have stumbled across this review are probably already somewhat familiar with the work Solzhenitsyn so this review can be brief. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of this novel because, though it is a novel--a work of fiction--it is also a historical document, one of the most important books of the twentieth century and essential for understanding the corruption of the Soviet system.The novel literally does bring the reader along for the ride during one day in the life of the titular character, a soldier falsely accused of treason and sentenced to a term of hard labor in the Gulag system of Siberian prison camps. The utter horror of this book is contained in the rich detail with which the author conveys life inside these camps (a life the author lived for himself), not only in the extremes of their abuses but in the minutiae of everyday life. The day described is not one of the most horrifying days--to fully grasp the horror of the Gulag, one needs to read other books including Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago. Indeed, the "one day" described is portrayed as a relatively good day, a perspective which forces the reader to confront the inhumanity of a system whose good days make for a bleak and depressing read.But the book is not merely a fictionalized documentary concerning what life was like in the prison camps, it is a historical document in its own right. It was this novel that (finally) brought the evils of the Gulag system into open discussion. Imagine the experience it must have been to read such a book upon its publication in 1962 and to realize that the events it described not only *did* happen but were *still* happening to the millions of prisoners who inhabited the prison camps that dotted the bleak Siberian landscape (which existed in modified form as late as the 1980s). While it would be folly to credit Solzhenitsyn with the fall of the Soviet Union (as some writers given to hyperbole have done), it would be equally unwise to discount the impact this book's revelations had on Russian history. In that way, reading this book is necessary not only to understand the nature of life inside the forced labor camps but to understand the course of Russian history in the 20th century.From a literary perspective, this is an odd work. With few events described in excruciating detail, the novel doesn't leave much room for the expected conflict/resolution or character arc. Instead, the novel presents a snapshot of an unchanging life. Combined with the dispiriting description of the lives of political prisoners, this makes for a less-than-enjoyable yet incredibly thought provoking and intellectually stimulating read. Upon finishing, the reader is left feeling quite glad to have read the book but perhaps equally glad that it's mercifully short. A longer book with the same subject matter could easily send the reader into a deep depression.In sum, you owe it to yourself to read this book, but you would be well-advised to save it for a day when you're more in the mood for intellectual stimulation than mere entertainment.

Outstanding book! Hadn't read it in years so I am thoroughly enjoying this time 'round.

Not being one who enjoys fiction, I found the story of life in a Soviet gulag by someone who actually survived the experience to be quite inviting. What I can’t understand is why it took me so long to read ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DENISOVICH … a modern classic.Reading Russian the works of Russian writers (and watching Russian movies, for that matter) is a different experience (and an acquired taste), but I found Solzhenitsyn to be a vivid storyteller. A short novel that consists of a single chapter detailing one miserable day of gulag life certainly provides food for thought regarding the cruelty the Soviet system routinely subjected its citizens … even after liberating them from Nazi brutality.Ivan Denisovich Shukhov is deemed a spy after being captured by the Germans during World War II and is sentenced to ten years at a labor camp. Although innocent of the charges, he is helpless and must simply endure a decade of hard labor in a remote prison camp; the book gives readers an idea of the drudgery associated with a typical day at the camp. From the very beginning, with Shukhov waking up feeling sick, we realize that every day, simple decisions will result in consequences as Shukhov opts to work even though he’s sick. As the day begins, the other members of Shukhov’s “team” of fellow prisoners are introduced … each possessing a uniqueness that factors into the day’s events. The setting is bleak: aside from the bitter cold and snow, there is the image of the prisoners living in tattered clothing and filth (foot rags for socks and sawdust-filled mattresses). With the work for the day centering on the construction of a brick wall, the hierarchy among Shukhov’s team becomes evident and the individual personalities of the prisoners comes to light. It doesn’t take long to realize that the purpose behind every action of every day affects the one thing that matters most … food. The beginning of the book details the meticulous care Shukhov takes in hiding a crust of bread in his mattress as an emergency ration if the day’s events don’t result in an adequate ration of food. That sliver of bread is referenced throughout the book. Whether it be garnering favor from the team leader, working harder, stealing or “cadging”, each inmate uses whatever tool or skill he possesses to surviveWhile the title makes it clear that the entire book details a single day, Solzhenitsyn makes that day seem like eternal misery. Every aspect of the story evokes something unpleasant and serves as a powerful image of the depressing reality of the Soviet system. Anything and everything can be construed as a “crime against the State” ... innocence can’t be proven. The sun shines, but offers no warmth. The barracks are cold, the men filthy and the food is inedible. Even the utilitarian wall being built offers no sense of purpose other than giving the prisoners something to do. The end of the book drives home the feeling of futility involved with surviving one day of a 10 year sentence. For Shukhov, this particular day worked in his favor, but we’re left wondering what the next day will bring … or the day after. We sense that each day presents the same challenges, but yields different results and the struggle to survive is as much mental as it is physical.While I was initially hesitant to read this book, I quickly became engrossed in the story being told and found it hard to put down. Solzhenitsyn effectively captures the depressing and oppressive nature of Soviet rule.