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Doctor Zhivago (Vintage Classic Russians Series)

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Doctor Zhivago (Vintage Classic Russians Series)

By: Boris Pasternak, Richard Pevear - translator, Larissa Volokhonsky - translator
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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'Not since Shakespeare has love been so fully, vividly, scrupulously and directly communicated' Sunday Times

Read this stunning new translation of Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize-winning masterpiece from Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, the acclaimed translators of War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

Banned in the Soviet Union until 1988, Doctor Zhivago is the epic story of the life and loves of a poet-physician during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. Taking his family from Moscow to what he hopes will be shelter in the Ural Mountains, Yuri Zhivago finds himself instead embroiled in the battle between the Whites and the Reds, and in love with the tender and beautiful nurse Lara.

Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky have restored the rhythms, tone, precision, and poetry of Pasternak's original, bringing this classic of world literature gloriously to life for a new generation of readers.

VINTAGE CLASSICS RUSSIAN SERIES - sumptuous editions of the greatest books to come out of Russia during the most tumultuous period in its history.

 Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Classics Russia Fiction Soviet Union
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Critic reviews

The first work of genius to come out of Russia since the Revolution (V.S. Pritchett)
The English-speaking world is indebted to these two magnificent translators
One of the great events in man's literary and moral history (Edmund Wilson)
Belongs to that small group of novels by which all others are ultimately judged (Frank Kermode)
Not since Shakespeare has love been so fully, vividly, scrupulously and directly communicated (Isaiah Berlin)
"Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky have once again provided an outstanding translation of a major Russian novel. They capture Pasternak's 'voice' with great skill. Thanks to their sensitive rendering, those reading Doctor Zhivago in English can now get a far better sense of Pasternak's style, for they have produced an English text that conveys the nuances (along with the occasional idiosyncrasies) of Pasternak's writing. Notably as well, their version includes some phrases and sentences that inexplicably were omitted by the original translators. The text is accompanied by useful (but not overwhelming) notes in the back that provide information about many historical and cultural references that would otherwise be obscure for those coming to the novel for the first time. Without a doubt, their version will become the standard translation of the novel for years to come."
As well as a gripping story, Doctor Zhivago is a work of meditation and a quiet challenge. Pasternak meant every word of it. I believe he would be pleased with the powerful fidelity of the translation now before us (Angela Livingstone)
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One of my favourite books, a real treat to have it read to me and Juliet Stevenson did this beautifully.

A beautiful story

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Juliet Stevenson is a superb narrator and her characterisations are brilliantly individualised which help to distinguish the huge cast of characters. She also creates a thrilling vocal interpretation of the natural world. The horrors of the brutal times are gently nuanced both in the writing and in the reading but we are in no doubt as to what Pasternak thought of the soviet regime.

Everyone should read this book

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What a book!!! Juliet reads so beautifully, really bringing it to life. I loved it.

Beautiful

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Juliet is a wonderful narrator and as usual gets all the voices right. I listened and read in detail for a course where I learned a lot. There are no wasted words, lots of symbols, characters are plot devices, little person against the state, collectivism v individualism, pathetic fallacy, art, music, medicine and much more in this cleverly nuanced novel. The film is very different and should be seen separately as there is no human romance in this book. The love is for Russia especially Moscow. To top it all Juliet reads the beautiful poems exquisitely.

Political tract with characters

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Always enjoyed the film but this was so much better. Juliet really brought the story to life.

One of the best I’ve listened to

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