In the last months of the war, Boris Pasternak was often invited to Moscow University, the Polytechnic Museum and the House of Scientists, where he publicly read his poems. Therefore, he hoped that victory would significantly affect the political climate. But bitter disappointment awaited him: the attacks of the leaders of the Writers' Union continued. He could not be forgiven for the ever-growing popularity among foreign readers.
Getting started on a novel
The idea of ​​the novel “Doctor Zhivago”, the history of which began at the very beginning of Pasternak’s career, took a long time to form in the mind of the poet. But in the fall of 1945, having gathered all the images, thoughts, intonations together, he realized that he was ready to begin work on the work. Moreover, the plot so clearly formed a single line that the poet expected that it would take him only a few months to write a novel.
We can say that February 1946 marks the beginning of Pasternak's work on the novel. Indeed, it was then that the poem "Hamlet" was written, opening the last chapter of "Doctor Zhivago."
And in August, the first chapter was already ready. He read it to close friends. But on August 14, the “same thing” was issued by the Decree of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks on the magazines Zvezda and Leningrad. Despite the fact that it had no direct relation to Pasternak (it affected the fate of A. Akhmatova and M. Zoshchenko), this event gave rise to a new round of struggle with “ideologically alien” authors. His situation was even more aggravated when rumors spread about the possible nomination of Pasternak for the Nobel Prize.
Work on the first chapters
However, the author did not stop working. The novel "Doctor Zhivago" so fascinated Pasternak that by the end of December two more chapters were completed. And the first two were copied to a clean sheet, the sheets of which were stitched into a notebook.
It is known that the original name was different: "Boys and Girls." So the author named his work in the early stages of creation. This was not only a description of the historical image of Russia in the first half of the 20th century, but also an expression of Pasternak's subjective views on the place of man in the formation of the world, on art and politics, etc.
In the same 1946, the poet met a woman who became his last love. It was Olga Ivinskaya. At the beginning of the meeting, she served as secretary. There were plenty of obstacles between them. These are past tragedies and current life circumstances. The first husband of Ivinskaya committed suicide, the second was also not alive. But Pasternak at that time was married for the second time, he had children.
Their love was against all odds. Many times they parted forever, but they could not live in separation. Pasternak himself admitted that it was Olga’s features that he put into the image of the main character of the novel - Lara Guichard.
Break
The difficult financial situation forced Pasternak to interrupt work on the novel Doctor Zhivago. The history of creation continued the following year, 1948. And the whole 1947th poet was engaged in translations, because he had to provide not only himself, but all those whom he voluntarily took care of. This is their own family, and Nina Tabidze (wife of the repressed Georgian poet), Ariadna and Anastasia Tsvetaeva (daughter and sister of the poetess), and the widow of Andrei Bely, and, finally, the children of Olga Ivinskaya.
In the summer of 1948, the fourth chapter of the novel was completed. Then the author gave the work its final name: "Doctor Zhivago." The content has already been structured, parts are also entitled.
This was also followed by a long break. He was associated, firstly, with the arrest of Olga Ivinsky, in which Pasternak blamed himself. Secondly, with increasing oppression over him.
He will finish chapter seven only in the spring of 1952. In the fall, it was printed full. So the work on the first book of the novel "Doctor Zhivago" was completed. The author survived myocardial infarction a few days later, was hospitalized and lay in the hospital for more than two months. There, being in an extremely serious condition, he suddenly felt intimacy with the Creator. This feeling influenced the mood of his works.
After the death of Stalin and the execution of Beria, there was a noticeable revival of literary life. Yes, and Boris Pasternak perked up, especially since Olga Ivinskaya returned from the camps. In 1954, ten poems from an unfinished novel were published.
Completion of "Doctor Zhivago"
In the fall of 1954, Pasternak and Ivinskaya renewed close relations. Olga spent the summer of 1955 near Peredelkino. There, the poet rented a house for her. He could not completely abandon the family. Tormented by an unbearable sense of guilt before his wife, he led a double life. Since that time, Olga was almost completely engaged in Pasternak's money, editorial and publishing affairs. Now Boris Leonidovich has more time for creativity. In July, he was already working on an epilogue. The final touches were made at the end of 1955.
The fate of the novel
Hoping for liberalization of views, Pasternak offers the manuscript of the novel to two publishers simultaneously. Also for the purpose of familiarization, Boris Leonidovich gave the manuscript to the radio correspondent, Italian Sergio d'Angelo, who was also a literary agent of the publisher Gianjacomo Feltrinelli. Most likely, the poet was aware of this fact. Soon he received the expected news from an Italian publisher who proposed publishing the novel. Pasternak accepted the offer, but was sure that his work would be published sooner in his native country (Doctor Zhivago). The story of the creation of the novel is interesting in that it is full of unexpected twists. None of the magazines gave an answer, and only in September Pasternak received an official refusal from the Novy Mir publishing house.
The poet did not give up and still believed in the success of the novel in his homeland. Indeed, Goslitizdat accepted for publication the novel "Doctor Zhivago." But the event itself was delayed due to numerous amendments and exemptions from the editors. Suddenly, several poems and two chapters from Doctor Zhivago were published by the Polish magazine Opinie. This was the beginning of the scandal. They pushed Pasternak, forcing him to withdraw the manuscript from Feltrinelli. Boris Leonidovich sent a telegram to the Italian publisher, where he demanded to return the text of the novel. However, behind the Writers' Union, Pasternak simultaneously passes Feltrinelli’s permission to publish Doctor Zhivago. The author gave the green light to the preservation of the original text.
Even the conversation of the chief persecutor of Pasternak, A. Surkov, with the Italian did not change the decision to publish the novel. Also in other countries, the first copies of the work were already being prepared for release.
The reaction of the West to the novel "Doctor Zhivago." The history of creation ended in tragedy
The reaction of Western critics was so resonant that they again wanted to nominate Pasternak for the Nobel Prize. The author was very encouraged by the attention of foreign readers and was happy to respond to letters coming from all over the world. On October 23, 1958, he received a telegram with the news of the awarding of the Nobel Prize to him and an invitation to present it.
It is clear that the Writers' Union was against the trip, and Pasternak received direct instructions to refuse the prize. Pasternak did not accept this ultimatum, and, as a result, was expelled from the membership of the USSR Writers Union.
Last lines
Boris Leonidovich was so exhausted morally and brought to the point that he still changed his mind and refused the prize. But this did not diminish the flurry of angry remarks addressed to him. The poet understood that this scandal could turn out to be even more serious consequences for him. He was very worried. He expressed his feelings in one of the last verses. This poem was the answer to all the attacks and angry discussions. But at the same time, the last lines again spoke of the personal: the break with Olga, for whom he was so homesick.
Pasternak soon had a heart attack. And three weeks later, on May 30, 1960, Boris Leonidovich died.
The life and fate of Pasternak is one of the most amazing in the history of our literature, with its tragedy and heroism.
B. Pasternak, “Doctor Zhivago”: summary
The novel describes the events of 1903-1929. The main character works as a doctor. This is a person with very creative views and an interesting character. Life difficulties touched him as a child, when his father first left the family, who later committed suicide, and at the age of 11 he lost his mother. He, in fact, is Dr. Zhivago. Yuri Zhivago did not live a very long, but very eventful life. There were several women in his life, but only one love. Her name was Lara Guichard. Fate gave them very little time to be together. Difficult time, obligations to other people, life circumstances - everything was against their love. Yuri dies in 1929 from a heart attack. But later, the half-brother finds his notes and poems, which make up the final part of the novel.
The plot lines of the novel were largely influenced by the difficulty with which Boris Pasternak wrote his work. “Doctor Zhivago”, the brief content of which does not give a full impression of this great work, was very warmly received in the West and so cruelly rejected in the Soviet Union. Therefore, every Russian needs to read this magnificent novel and feel the spirit of a real Russian person.