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A review by philamot
The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book by Peter Finn
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
The book covers the history surrounding the writing, publication, and reception of the book Doctor Zhivago. While the actions of the CIA to distribute the book, and conversely, the efforts by the Kremlin to prevent distribution, do make up part of this story, promising a high-tension CIA v. Kremlin story seems like an oversell. The book reads more as the historical and cultural context to the writing of the novel, and then an account of the struggles experienced by Boris Pasternak during and after publication.
While I found the book on the whole an interesting look at one writer’s impact on both the literary world and his personal life, the book felt strung out, despite its relatively short length. Had it been portrayed as a biography of Doctor Zhivago and the man who wrote it, the pacing would have made more sense.
While I found the book on the whole an interesting look at one writer’s impact on both the literary world and his personal life, the book felt strung out, despite its relatively short length. Had it been portrayed as a biography of Doctor Zhivago and the man who wrote it, the pacing would have made more sense.
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism