The Zhivago Affair : The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book

__Drawing on newly declassified government files, this is the dramatic story of how a forbidden book in the Soviet Union became a secret CIA weapon in the ideological battle between East and West.__ In May 1956, an Italian publishing scout took a train to a village just outside Moscow to visit Russia’s greatest living poet, Boris Pasternak. He left carrying the original manuscript of Pasternak’s first and only novel, entrusted to him with these words: “This is __Doctor Zhivago.__ May it make its way around the world.” Pasternak believed his novel was unlikely ever to be published in the Soviet Union, where the authorities regarded it as an irredeemable assault on the 1917 Revolution. But he thought it stood a chance in the West and, indeed, beginning in Italy, __Doctor Zhivago__ was widely published in translation throughout the world. From there the life of this extraordinary book entered the realm of the spy novel. The CIA, which recognized that the Cold War was above all an ideological battle, published a Russian-language edition of __Doctor Zhivago__ and smuggled it into the Soviet Union. Copies were devoured in Moscow and Leningrad, sold on the black market, and passed surreptitiously from friend to friend. Pasternak’s funeral in 1960 was attended by thousands of admirers who defied their government to bid him farewell. The example he set launched the great tradition of the writer-dissident in the Soviet Union. In __The Zhivago Affair,__ Peter Finn and Petra Couvée bring us intimately close to this charming, passionate, and complex artist. First to obtain CIA files providing concrete proof of the agency’s involvement, the authors give us a literary thriller that takes us back to a fascinating period of the Cold War—to a time when literature had the power to stir the world.__(With 8 pages of black-and-white illustrations.)__ Drawing On Newly Declassified Files, This Is The Story Of How A Book Forbidden In The Soviet Union Became A Secret Cia Weapon In The Ideological Battle Between East And West. In May 1956, An Italian Publishing Scout Paid A Visit To Russia's Greatest Living Poet, Boris Pasternak. He Left Carrying The Manuscript Of Pasternak's First And Only Novel, Entrusted To Him With These Words: This Is Doctor Zhivago. May It Make Its Way Around The World. Pasternak Believed His Novel Would Never Be Published In The Soviet Union, Where The Authorities Regarded It As Irredeemable--but He Thought It Stood A Chance In The West And, Indeed, It Was Widely Published In Translation. Then The Cia Smuggled A Russian-language Edition Into The Soviet Union. Copies Were Sold On The Black Market And Passed Surreptitiously From Friend To Friend, And Pasternak Found Himself In No Small Trouble. But His Funeral In 1960 Was Attended By Thousands Of Admirers Who Defied Their Government In Order To Bid Him Farewell. The Example He Set Launched The Great Tradition Of The Soviet Writer-dissident.--from Publisher Description. Prologue :this Is Doctor Zhivago. May It Make Its Way Around The World. -- The Roof Over The Whole Of Russia Has Been Torn Off. -- Pasternak, Without Realizing It, Entered The Personal Life Of Stalin. -- I Have Arranged To Meet You In A Novel. -- You Are Aware Of The Anti-soviet Nature Of The Novel? -- Until It Is Finished, I Am A Fantastically, Manically Unfree Man. -- Not To Publish A Novel Like This Would Constitute A Crime Against Culture. -- If This Is Freedom Seen Through Western Eyes, Well, I Must Say We Have A Different View Of It. -- We Tore A Big Hole In The Iron Curtain. -- We'll Do It Black. -- He Also Looks The Genius: Raw Nerves, Misfortune, Fatality. -- There Would Be No Mercy, That Was Clear. -- Pasternak's Name Spells War. -- I Am Lost Like A Beast In An Enclosure. -- A College Weekend With Russians -- An Unbearably Blue Sky -- It's Too Late For Me To Express Regret That The Book Wasn't Published. Peter Finn And Petra Couvée. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 325-335) And Index. Drawing on newly declassified government files, this is the dramatic story of how a forbidden book in the Soviet Union became a secret CIA weapon in the ideological battle between East and West. In May 1956, an Italian publishing scout took a train to a village just outside Moscow to visit Russia’s greatest living poet, Boris Pasternak. He left carrying the original manuscript of Pasternak’s first and only novel, entrusted to him with these words: “This is Doctor Zhivago. May it make its way around the world.” Pasternak believed his novel was unlikely ever to be published in the Soviet Union, where the authorities regarded it as an irredeemable assault on the 1917 Revolution. But he thought it stood a chance in the West and, indeed, beginning in Italy, Doctor Zhivago was widely published in translation throughout the world. From there the life of this extraordinary book entered the realm of the spy novel. The CIA, which recognized that the Cold War was above all an ideological battle, published a Russian-language edition of Doctor Zhivago and smuggled it into the Soviet Union. Copies were devoured in Moscow and Leningrad, sold on the black market, and passed surreptitiously from friend to friend. Pasternak’s funeral in 1960 was attended by thousands of admirers who defied their government to bid him farewell. The example he set launched the great tradition of the writer-dissident in the Soviet Union. In The Zhivago Affair, Peter Finn and Petra Couvée bring us intimately close to this charming, passionate, and complex artist. First to obtain CIA files providing concrete proof of the agency’s involvement, the authors give us a literary thriller that takes us back to a fascinating period of the Cold War—to a time when literature had the power to stir the world. (With 8 pages of black-and-white illustrations.) Drawing on newly declassified files, this is the story of how a book forbidden in the Soviet Union became a secret CIA weapon in the ideological battle between East and West. In May 1956, an Italian publishing scout paid a visit to Russia's greatest living poet, Boris Pasternak. He left carrying the manuscript of Pasternak's first and only novel, entrusted to him with these words: "This is Doctor Zhivago. May it make its way around the world." Pasternak believed his novel would never be published in the Soviet Union, where the authorities regarded it as irredeemable--but he thought it stood a chance in the West and, indeed, it was widely published in translation. Then the CIA smuggled a Russian-language edition into the Soviet Union. Copies were sold on the black market and passed surreptitiously from friend to friend, and Pasternak found himself in no small trouble. But his funeral in 1960 was attended by thousands of admirers who defied their government in order to bid him farewell. The example he set launched the great tradition of the Soviet writer-dissident. First to obtain CIA files providing proof of the agency's involvement, Peter Finn and Petra Couvée take us back to a remarkable Cold War era when literature had the power to stir the world.--From publisher description In Soviet Russia in 1956, Boris Pasternak's novel Dr Zhivago was seen as an assault on the 1917 Revolution. The manuscript was taken out of the USSR and published first in Italy, then around the world. It was also published in Russian by the CIA and smuggled back into the Soviet Union. Pasternak became not only a Nobel Laureate, but the first of Russia's great writer-dissidents. Drawing on recently declassified files, this is the dramatic story of how Dr Zhivago became a secret weapon in an ideological war. Draws on unique access to classified CIA files to document the role of Boris Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago" in promoting American Cold War agendas in the 1950s, revealing how the CIA helped publish the Soviet-banned book in Russian to an enthusiastic black-market audience