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'''Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn''' (Alexander Solyenitsin) (Russian: Александр Солженицын) (b. 1918 - 2008), was a Russian novelist and historian. He was born at Kislovodsk on 11th December, 1918, in the [[Soviet Union]]. He was sent to prison and labor camps over a letter that criticized [[Joseph Stalin]].  His additional writing won him the [[Nobel Prize]] for Literature in 1970 and exile from the Soviet Union (ordered out of the country) in 1974.  He returned to [[Russia]] in 1994, after [[communism]] fell there.

'''Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn''' (Alexander Solyenitsin) (Russian: Александр Солженицын) (b. 1918 - 2008), was a Russian novelist and historian. He was born at Kislovodsk on 11 December 1918, in the [[Soviet Union]]. He was sent to prison and labor camps over a letter that criticized [[Joseph Stalin]].  His additional writing won him the [[Nobel Prize]] for Literature in 1970 and exile from the Soviet Union (ordered out of the country) in 1974.  He returned to [[Russia]] in 1994, after [[communism]] fell there.

==Life==

==Life==

Solzhenitsyn studied science, history, and literature.  He also was a teacher for a short period.  When the [[Nazis]] invaded in 1941, he entered the army.  From his hard work he rose to the rank of captain and won medals twice for his service.   

Solzhenitsyn studied science, history, and literature.  He also was a teacher for a short period.  When the [[Nazis]] invaded in 1941, he entered the army.  From his hard work he rose to the rank of captain and won medals twice for his service.   

In February of 1945, he was arrested by the Soviet secret police for a passage in his private letter that criticized the Soviet dictator [[Stalin]].  Solzhenitsyn spent three years in prison and five in the Communists labor camps.  He was released after Stalin's death and the returned to his teaching.   

In February 1945, he was arrested by the Soviet secret police for a passage in his private letter that criticized the Soviet dictator [[Stalin]].  Solzhenitsyn spent three years in prison and five in the Communists labor camps.  He was released after Stalin's death and the returned to his teaching.   

Solzhenitsyn began to write about his horrific experiences in the labor camps and the oppression of Communism.  Of course the Communists did not have free press, but in the late 1950s to the early 1960s there was a period of openness.  This period was only used to improve relations with the West.  ''One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich'' was published in 1962.  This was about the daily life of a labor camp worker in the Soviet Union.  Other works followed and Solzhenitsyn fame became international.  Once the openness period ended the Soviet Union could not safely dipose the famous writer.  He was exiled from the Soviet Union and still remained a outspoken critic of the Communism.  Solzhenitsyn later won the Nobel prize in literature.

Solzhenitsyn began to write about his horrific experiences in the labor camps and the oppression of Communism.  Of course the Communists did not have free press, but in the late 1950s to the early 1960s there was a period of openness.  This period was only used to improve relations with the West.  ''One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich'' was published in 1962.  This was about the daily life of a labor camp worker in the Soviet Union.  Other works followed and Solzhenitsyn fame became international.  Once the openness period ended the Soviet Union could not safely dipose the famous writer.  He was exiled from the Soviet Union and still remained a outspoken critic of the Communism.  Solzhenitsyn later won the Nobel prize in literature.

In the 1990s, Solzhenitsyn was critical of President [[Boris Yeltsin]], blaming him for the collapse of Russia's economy, his inability to prevent [[NATO]] expansion in Eastern Europe, and his support of  Russian billionaires ([[oligarch]]s), while ordinary Russians grew poorer (''Rebuilding Russia'' [1990] and ''Russia in Collapse'' [1998]). In 1998, Solzhenitsyn embarrassed Yeltsin by refusing to accept an award from him.[http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/421905.aspx]

In the 1990s, Solzhenitsyn was critical of President [[Boris Yeltsin]], blaming him for the collapse of Russia's economy, his inability to prevent [[NATO]] expansion in Eastern Europe, and his support of  Russian billionaires ([[oligarch]]s), while ordinary Russians grew poorer (''Rebuilding Russia'' [1990] and ''Russia in Collapse'' [1998]). In 1998, Solzhenitsyn embarrassed Yeltsin by refusing to accept an award from him.[http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/421905.aspx]

Solzhenitsyn has criticized the policies of current Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]].   <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/935876.stm</ref>  In later years, he supported and defended Putin against western criticism. In 2007, he accepted an award from Putin.[http://pajamasmedia.com/flemmingrose/2007/07/29/post_4/]

Solzhenitsyn has criticized the policies of current Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/935876.stm</ref>  In later years, he supported and defended Putin against western criticism. In 2007, he accepted an award from Putin.[http://pajamasmedia.com/flemmingrose/2007/07/29/post_4/]

"Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's volumes documenting the murderous Soviet [[gulag]] ... had an enormous impact undermining the moral claims of [[socialism]]." <ref>http://www.isil.org/peace/philosophy/liberty.html</ref> ("Arkhipelag Gulag")

"Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's volumes documenting the murderous Soviet [[gulag]] ... had an enormous impact undermining the moral claims of [[socialism]]." <ref>http://www.isil.org/peace/philosophy/liberty.html</ref> ("Arkhipelag Gulag")

[[Category:Nobel laureates in Literature]]

[[Category:Nobel laureates in Literature]]

[[Category:Russian People]]

[[Category:Russian People]]

[[category:Slavic Authors]]

[[Category:Slavic Authors]]

[[Category : Conservative Authors]]

[[Category:Conservative Authors]]

[[Category : Anti-Communism]]

[[Category:Anti-Communism]]