1. After a brief scan through several articles, I've not seen the answer to this, so: Are Strelnikov and the foresty chap based on real people?
That I don't know.
2. What social class is Yuri in? Couldn't work that out either.
Pasternak's family and he himself were part of the intelligentsia . I don't like using bourgeoisie for discussing Russian history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligentsia. I would argue that Yuri would be a part of the intelligentsia as well.
3. And why, when his family was essentially exiled, would he have had to get permission to leave Russia?
Emigration was illegal during the Russian Imperial period. Emigration was definitely illegal during the early Soviet Imperial period. Travel abroad was legalized in 1921 only. One needed permission to go abroad. The state, at this time, controlled its citizens in a manner of speaking. Its citizens were needed. And a doctor is definitely not someone one wants to let go.
Thanks. 

This message last edited by The Shrike on 19/03/2010 at 05:12:57 PM
So, let's talk about Doctor Zhivago.
- 15/03/2010 12:51:09 PM
1764 Views
I liked it a lot.
- 15/03/2010 03:24:34 PM
1098 Views
I mostly agree with your points, but I'm not sure Zhivago was ever disillusioned with revolution.
- 15/03/2010 09:19:54 PM
948 Views
Re: I mostly agree with your points, but I'm not sure Zhivago was ever disillusioned with revolution
- 15/03/2010 09:57:29 PM
1060 Views
Yes, it's the Soviet state, not the revolution, that he hates.
- 15/03/2010 11:16:29 PM
881 Views
There will be more later. Much more. So lets start at the beginning.
- 15/03/2010 04:22:15 PM
943 Views
... I'm clearly lacking in braincells.
- 15/03/2010 05:03:35 PM
1038 Views
... yes, you moved to scotland? *NM*
- 15/03/2010 05:42:21 PM
411 Views
I didn't notice the Anna Karenina connection. That's a good point.
- 15/03/2010 09:26:41 PM
960 Views
Yes. Perhaps we should tell the non-Russian speakers/readers that the name of the protagonist,
- 15/03/2010 10:22:39 PM
1082 Views
Zhivago is the Church Slavonic genitive singular of живой (zhivoi), "living"
- 15/03/2010 11:18:23 PM
910 Views
I thought this was a great read, and I'm sure I've missed a lot, which will make a reread good too.
- 15/03/2010 05:16:19 PM
1075 Views
On balance, there IS a love story. Just not quite the one that most people think.
- 15/03/2010 09:34:20 PM
1004 Views
I noticed that as well
- 15/03/2010 09:42:04 PM
1078 Views
Yes. This is what I was going to say, just not as articulately.
*NM*
- 15/03/2010 10:12:33 PM
382 Views
*NM*
- 15/03/2010 10:12:33 PM
382 Views
My initial thoughts
- 15/03/2010 06:02:21 PM
1035 Views
Re: My initial thoughts
- 15/03/2010 08:54:15 PM
954 Views
There appears to be a lull, so some background - How many of you have read anything about
- 15/03/2010 08:19:07 PM
970 Views
I've read bits & pieces.
- 15/03/2010 08:33:41 PM
990 Views
Ok, since you're interested, here is some "light" reading for you. Approach with caution.
- 15/03/2010 08:47:42 PM
1128 Views
Re: Ok, since you're interested, here is some "light" reading for you. Approach with caution.
- 15/03/2010 11:05:22 PM
1049 Views
Thank you for calling it "light" reading. The quotation marks were comforting.
- 17/03/2010 09:56:26 AM
921 Views
I will read and respond to this when I remember to bring my glasses home from work! *NM*
- 17/03/2010 06:14:31 PM
372 Views
Fiction or non-fiction?
- 15/03/2010 09:21:04 PM
1137 Views
Familiar with the history, though I've never exhaustively studied the time period.
- 16/03/2010 02:20:23 PM
1014 Views
Why would you consider this a classic? What made it so good or profound for (plural) you?
- 16/03/2010 11:19:23 PM
999 Views
Put a question mark at the end of the first sentence and read my response. *NM*
- 17/03/2010 12:09:58 AM
375 Views
Some questions.
- 19/03/2010 08:27:38 AM
923 Views
Class can be tricky given the Russian context.
- 19/03/2010 05:09:14 PM
1086 Views
As an addendum to what Greg wrote:
- 19/03/2010 05:56:56 PM
988 Views
The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them
- 21/03/2010 05:34:03 PM
1018 Views
It looks a bit strained to me.
- 22/03/2010 03:28:34 AM
898 Views
So far the reviews are pretty glowing, as are the Amazon reviewers.
- 22/03/2010 01:44:19 PM
1032 Views
In other news, I read about 100 pages of The Island at the Center of the World.
- 22/03/2010 03:48:47 PM
950 Views
I finished it last night - the last 100+ pages rather fast, considering how long the whole took.
- 21/04/2010 01:00:50 AM
776 Views
