Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - Doctor Zhivago

Doctor Zhivago
Doctor Zhivago
Author: Boris Pasternak
It is the classic story of Zhivago, poet and physician, and his struggle to keep his family alive in the midst of the overwhelming chaos of the Russian Revolution. And, it is about Zhivago's love for the beautiful Lara, the woman he pursues beyond all reason, the human symbol of life's sweetness and joy. 
ISBN: 397750
Publication Date: 1958
Pages: 456
Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1

5 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Signet Book
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Doctor Zhivago on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Reviewing a classic is always difficult business. Most people are likely familiar with the storyline, if only from the Omar Sharif film. Pasternak tells the story of an elite doctor and his family whose lives are thrown into turmoil by the Russian Revolution. During the revolution Zhivago loses his connections to his family and his wealth. But weaving throughout this undeniably tragic tale is the real focus, Zhivago's blossoming relationship with a young woman, Lara. The two come in and out of contact during the war, due more to the vagaries of circumstance than to careful planning, knowledge, or ability to execute travel plans. What results is a deeply tender and moving relationship formed in the crucible of wartime. Pasternak had a clear political agenda in Zhivago, to show the cruelty and violence of the Bolshevik regime, and to highlight the dangers of a corrupted regime. The suffering and misery of the Russian people are clearly acute, and Pasternak presents a vibrant portrait of life in Russia at war. In many ways this reads like so many Russian classics-- deep moral themes, dense plot structure, and a brilliant recreation of environment. It's difficult to review a work of great literature, but I much enjoyed Zhivago. I got the message, I felt the pathos, and I soaked up the Russian environment. I absorbed every bit of this book that I could.
scrapbooklady avatar reviewed Doctor Zhivago on + 472 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
"Doctor Zhivago" is a gripping story about life, love, and the tragedy of war. Not an easy read at first, but it is an enduring and powerful one.
Read All 9 Book Reviews of "Doctor Zhivago"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed Doctor Zhivago on + 38 more book reviews
Having absolutely loved the movie (seen it three times) I think I went into this novel with expectations way too high. I did not enjoy the book nearly as much as I did the movie. Pasternak deserves high praise for his courageous writings, especially this novel; however, I just was not able to connect with the various characters. Too many of the historical references were way to short in description and, IMO would only be understood by someone with a high level of knowledge in Russian history.
reviewed Doctor Zhivago on + 8 more book reviews
The story of the life and loves of a poet/physician during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. A classic.
reviewed Doctor Zhivago on + 8 more book reviews
This is the novel from which the popular movie "Dr. Zhivago" was taken. It is a true Russian novel with lots of characters with confusing names and a rather tedious style of writing. But, it's a classic!


Genres: