The book describes one day in the life of the protagonist Ivan Denisovich Shukov, who is a prisoner in a political prison in the Soviet Union in 1951. He was convited to 10 years in the gulag (Soviet labour camps) on the false accusation of being a German spy. The novel describes the dreary routine of the prisoners, the harsh reality and horrible conditions. It is about a regime that is trying to break and dehumanise its prisoners.
The author, Solzhenitsyn, was a prisoner in such a camp too and was exiled twice, because he criticised Stalin. Solzhenitsyn creates a microcosm in his book through which he criticises Stalinism. Ironically, the prisoners in Shukov's labour camp show more communist behaviour than the guards that are supposed to represent Stalin's regime and thus communism. When the novel was finally published in 1961, it was obviously quite controvers as it revealed the less-glamorous side of the Soviet Union. Solzhenitsyn describes his experiences, but uses Shukov as a character to protect himself from being convited and arrested again, which is why it is semi-autobiographical. eventhough there is nothing very exciting that happens throughout the story, One da in the life of Ivan Denisovich is interesting and enlightening to read. I assume that many aren't very aware of the Gulag and the labour camps of the Soviet Union, like I was not aware before I read this book. To enjoy reading this you should be at least willing to learn about history. Its also not too long, as it descirbes one day only and I've heard that there is a movie adaption too (but I don't know if it is good or not). -Nicole
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