Rector of the Academy “Bolashaq” Professor Menlibayev K.N. on the eve of the Day of memory of political repression and hunger donated literature from the home library, among which was the book by A. Solzhenitsyn “Gulag Archipelago”.
“Gulag Archipelago” is a difficult book with a hard fate. Its creation and publication lasted for decades, for its reading was arrested, and even after tens of years there is no silence of disputes around it.
In 1945, Solzhenitsyn was sentenced to eight years of labor and correctional camps. He served his full sentence and spent another three years in exile. Therefore, Alexander Isaevich relied on his own bitter experience. It is interesting that he does not always describe it negatively: in the “Gulag Archipelago” stories about camps are sometimes given by nostalgia and prison romance.
Over time, Solzhenitsyn supplemented the book with a list of witnesses – when the political situation allowed it. These are 257 names of prisoners, exiles and their relatives. In addition, Alexander Isaevich used the works and memoirs written by former prisoners.
The authorities, of course, did not need such a publication at all, and they did their best to prevent it. Hoping to find out the location of the manuscript, the KGB densely settled on the typist Solzhenitsyn. She gave it away, where she hid the “Archipelago” – the book was buried in the yard of one of her acquaintances’ summer house – and then killed herself.
Others were arrested and imprisoned for distributing the manuscript. There is a known case when five years of strict regime were given for it.
It is recommended for a wide range of readers.
