The Gulag Archipelago, Volume 1

An Experiment in Literary Investigation

By: Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

“BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF THE 20TH CENTURY.” —Time

Volume 1 of the gripping epic masterpiece, Solzhenitsyn's chilling report of his arrest and interrogation, which exposed to the world the vast bureaucracy of secret police that haunted Soviet society. Features a new foreword by Anne Applebaum.

“The greatest and most powerful single indictment of a political regime ever leveled in modern times.” —George F. Kennan

“It is impossible to name a book that had a greater effect on the political and moral consciousness of the late twentieth century.” —David Remnick, The New Yorker

“Solzhenitsyn’s masterpiece. . . . The Gulag Archipelago helped create the world we live in today.” —Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gulag: A History, from the foreword

©2015 Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Eye opening!

What an amazing firsthand account of a communistic society. How quickly we forget the lessons of the past.

A Lesson in Evil, Philosophy and Psychology

Hitler's evil came at the world in a blitzkrieg that the west could not contain, Stalin's evil was a way of life for mostly Eastern Europe alone, and so the west chose to contain it.

An important window into a history

This is an astounding window into a part of history that we cannot be allowed to forget.

Terrible choice of narrator - decided to read instead

Why on earth would the choice be made to have this shattering epic read in the King’s English? A posh accent would have worked, but this brings the listener all the way into Buckingham Palace. I suspect someone hoped that a wry, intellectual voice might add a note of humor for buoyancy, but to me it sounds inappropriate, and tone normally forms in the mind of the reader.

PROFOUND

Worth the time! Study history, history may not exactly repeat but it sure does rhyme so take heed.

Long, grim and interesting

The accounts of prison life were overwhelmingly grim and well presented. I found it to be a wearingly sad peek into a terrifying piece of history.

Should Be Mandatory Reading for Everyone

Solzhenitsyn writes an affidavit of the dangers and dehumanizing results of the Left with literary skill, pathos, and righteousness anger. These books are vital reading for people what want to be informed and who value freedom. The performances is well done, and adds to the sadness and horror of Solzhenitsyn's and millions of others experiences.

Hiccups

Great book series it kept starting over on book two. Which was frustrating. Worked through that while still learning how the United States is heading in a similar direction.

Required reading

As many others have already said, this should be required reading for every student in America. Heartbreaking, sickening and disgustingly true and honest.

11/10 work of history, humanity, and depravity.

Weird choice of accent for VO artist, but his performance was tremendous. Book itself is a precious remnant of a history we mustn’t forget, at any cost.