The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956 by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn [Book Summary – Review]


The Gulag Archipelago of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn has one exciting area within the history of literature. While viewed as one immensely significant record with the terrible acts perpetrated via the administration during the Joseph Stalin era, it is also a wonderful piece of literature that is both daunting and highly poetic. Thus, what isn’t the medium non-fictional narrative with the existing within one jail cage is the study of Solzhenitsyn – it is too much effort to catch the bleak nonsense plus helpless human hind.

Stalin’s figurative expression of a net of a system of labor camps maintained in the Soviet Union of a secluded bond with isles (also comprehended as one group of islands) distinguished out of the residue of Nanai/Hezhen and out of sight is Solzhenitsyn’s central literary tool. This permits Aleksandr for taking one anthropological approximation and explain to the audience whatever existing was like on these odd and crude islands.

In this summary, you will be taken to Solzhenitsyn’s ideas and tales of the regime of soviet labor camps used specifically to punish political criminals which brings poverty to millions.


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Chapter 1 – It was the Archipelago that rose with the October Revolution, and these expanded from Solovki prison and took firm root after World War II.


What was unlike the archipelago, they were either the Russian work camps or the Soviet Union’s obligatory work encampment – one sequence of the isles in their own right that expanded across the country. Although these islands are concealed to most with the globe, any spirit who gets in one would find out that they are very actual.

In the Gulag Archipelago, many isles that spread crosswise through the Russian homeland were found, out of the Bering Gate inside the eastern toward the Bosporus in the occident. However, by you, tickets will not be found for those integrities being vented in whichever tour agency.

Although Gulag Archipelago’s initial crests originated during nineteen-eighteen, the twelvemonth of the October Revolution managed via Lenin, the truth of these magical islands continues a secret to all.

Lenin would continue to gain the authority of the Soviet administration by saying “decisive, brutal measures” to “tighten discipline” just months later on the reform. Moreover, therefore, the isles started to shape.

Those who would not discover gulags especially surprising are these accustomed cum Communist diplomacies. After all, it was called by Friedrich Engels plus Karl Marx, who wrote in own Commie Manifestos, to overthrow coercion’s elder noble regime. Instead, it’s a novel system of repression to the barney. Thenceforth the elder grid involved prisons, it made sense for this novel system to keep one novel type of prison.



The Archipelago of Russian working camps was exhibited on September 5, 1918, once the coming bylaw was issued: “Protect the Republic of Soviet from class adversaries by isolating it in gathering camps.”

As its very noun signifies, the original Russian work camp inside the islands seemed over the Solovetsky Isles inside an inland sea of the Barents Sea between north-western Europe and Russia, a place that one ancient monastery was converted towards one jail camp. The model where entire upcoming campsites were going to get the hints was this first camp, the Solovki gulag.

From there, the place where a collection of islands formed by two or more pieces of land surrounded by water accrued was in the dense taiga forests and the arid lands of the tundra- mostly what rabbits, hind, sly fellows, plus Canis lupus call home. Presently, what would seem as curious acquaintances toward the residents of those rapidly sprouting islands were these animals.

While the fundamentals of the Archipelago of Russian Work Camps might be followed toward era First Global War, the transformation of these islands into the huge workforce to join came later in the Second Global War.

After World War II, faced by the Association of Soviet with an urgent economical worry about growing plus construction, what could be a more proper workforce compared to the entire labor force hanging out inside the work camps to take on this duty? You didn’t have to give them money, but they also had no family to take care of them, so they could simply move out of one realm to another one. By you, it wasn’t too needed for concerning whereof homes, colleges, nursery, or yet nutrition and bathing.


Chapter 2 – You reach the Archipelago when you are captured by the Organs.


Questions asked by many Russians before being dispatched toward one isle in the archipelago; “Me? For what?” these were. However, if there are any, a few have ever been answered.

Before they realized what was occurring, escorting them to their own selves’ novel houses’ anterior door occurred- now their past lives however memories.

It was worked by all those in the Archipelago of Russian working camps, and in doing so they would most likely die. The capture that put them there was different stuff they whole owned common ground.

Those who were employees in the organization that managed the working camps were designated the Organ. Either by you, it was found in your facility or on the surgical desk at the infirmary, it was these human beings who captured you.

Organs can be hidden like any human being: a religious pilgrim, cyclist, taxi driver, bank teller, or movie director. They could appear during whichever moment- but there were advantages for capturing human beings during the evening because it was easier for somebody for getting lost in the dark. Daytime plus evening, either lonely or at a mob, it doesn’t matter – if you’re wanted by the Organs, you would be taken.

It wasn’t important that being guilty wasn’t a crime. Provided that the organs owned a leading philosophy, they were fighting the inner opponent. That was everyone who dared to resist the working class’s despotism.

However, two things that mean nothing to Organs; it wasn’t criminal or innocent because their major worry became the capture lists, that showing the types of goods to be imported and the quantities of each type in the contingent system, they had to impose. However, if they got someone to admit the blame – nor yet though the crime was made up by them – it did a great work till the Organs.



Since for Stalin there became any like stuff qua one deficiency of rivals, he assumed the Organs for making a definite arrestment’s count. The thing that Stalin particularly loved for glancing were human beings out of spiritual institutions, as whichever spiritual action was noted “opposed-reform boost”. Already religious instruction was seen as one political fault, plus people who captured below those circumstances were comprehended like tenants – sensing they were sentenced to a maximum of decades in prison.

However, only some with the captures carried out via the Organs were religious perpetrators.

Independent and prominent philosophers were also aimed at, as well as those who once owned one tiny exclusive job place– wrongly suspected of collecting fortune. Different people were just blamed for simply owning one unlawful transmitter of a broadcasting station.


Chapter 3 – It was severity and torment that accompanied inquiries in the Gulag.


It is the application of torture that has experienced its uphill plus downhill during the history of Russia.

In the reign of the 17th-age Alexis I The Quietest, one helpful device admitted upon it was admitted a barbaric practice by his heir, Peter I (or named Pyotr Alekseevich). Similarly, it was banned in the final within the 18th age, during the reign of Catherine II. However, in twentieth-century Russia, under the flag of socialism, torture has returned with revenge.

Many false charges plus manufactured lawsuits imposed by the competent in Soviet might have glanced at one reversion to Middle Ages standards.

Severity plus cruelty via Organs were prepared for questioning, however, these queries have never been piecemeal within either one inquiry or one way for getting toward the lowest part of the crime. Rather, they had to weaken human beings like a state where they would confess any kind of accusation against them.

The “queried” ones may become an expert who often quotes Lenin plus Marx however frequently does not talk about Joseph S. Either one juvenile female whoever goes to watch one film inside the strangers’ firm.

Well, what were the torture methods used like normal implementation via the Organs?

Initially, there were psychological tactics such as humiliation, intimidation, persuasion, and lack of taking naps for happening in the defendant extra undefended era speaking the offensive language.



Next, the physical violence that applied was: lighting a smoke, putting the arrested inside one case full of chinch, pressing their headpieces cum ferrous handcuffs, kindly crushing the testicles, lowering them into an acid barrel – all this, together with regular hunger practice and beating.

The whole that was done notwithstanding the illegal torture following Article 136 of the Penal System’s Rule. “The questioner has no legitimate reason for taking the statement or admission of a defendant by coercion or threat,” it declared.

When the defendant takes up this issue and desires to view that rule, the coroners will be told by the investigators that it should not fall into the hands of either the accused or which they did not have a copy.

When there is a problem like the reason for savage actions were perpetrated, the Communist’s cast of minds which can return is every time; The entire bourgeois class must be annihilated.


Chapter 4 – They were sealed steel ships sailing between the ports of the Archipelago.


What do you think you will get if you make Russia’s one plan plus set one gudgeon at each railway intersection, railway terminal, and state capital? That’s true – an exact plan whereof the entire of the harbors of Archipelago’s Russian working class.

Like you might have guessed, the boats to go to those isle harbors plus leave prisoners were not sails, however, trains cum closed arrestee wagons.

Provided that it is discovered by you as one traveler inside those captive cars, you’ll be shocked how many passengers you have inside your section: fifteen, twenty, maybe thirty either furthermore, entire rivaling for the area plus oxygen at one chairless car or windows.

The reason the automobiles were developed with the floor, ceiling, and walls reinforced was to keep all these people that way. Prisoners had no opportunity of escaping as every compartment was greatly tested for either possible nozzles or feebleness.

And to be more precise, the reason the daisies were constructed was for the safeguards levied war cum engine pistons for keeping an eye on the arrestee.

If you saw those railways out in the free world, it would be considered by you which railway was transporting rations or some kind within inhuman shipment because of the absence of windows. Of course, you will never be doubtful of terrible facts.

The reason for particular attention being paid to the burden of prisoners was for normal citizens who do not accidentally encounter the unpleasant appearance within those human beings who acted as buffalo.



Of course, although the general citizens knew that frequent arrests were made, they would still be appalled for glancing many inmates acted in this way. Therefore, loading every time happened at night.

Care was also taken to keep the detainees in a situation of continual any act aimed at intimidating or intimidating the society, usually undertaken for a political cause. That got to be accomplished by cutting the arrestees’ hair, usually stroking possible escape routes and counting routinely.

After that, a water rejection was found. Inmates would not have access to water for days for escaping owning for coming through bathroom problems. Although it was not a torture method, a practical worry: Once they are given water, they will need to pee at once. If they have water twice, they are going to fare more than one. This problem can be bypassed completely by not permitting liquid during the whole.

How long does their imprisonment have to be dealt with by the captives inside those overcharged cars? The trip can take a few days or a few weeks, as it depends on the arrival point.


Chapter 5 – People whose lives were spent through job, hunger, and death were the natives of the Archipelago.


When you arrive at your initial camping, by you, it has been formally turned to a citizen within the island groups of the Russian work camp. By you, it has been born back inside of one recent occurrence as an arrestee and this will possibly be your identity card to the remainder of the vita.

However, before death came, the daily habits within Archipelago’s individuals just worked ranging from matutinal to evening each date.

Contingent upon your isle, it may be operated by you inside one stone pit, a mine excavating on account of charcoal, cupric, either bullet or maybe a factory that does ore smelting and cast metal.

Next, some people operated over the rail crossing, excavating tunnels or asphalting ways via the mons. The most conventional gulag craftsmanship was woodcutting, while others were doing agricultural work.

Whatever your task, the job starts the era of sunup plus finishes at sundown.

There wasn’t even a thing except for work. An existence was found full of hunger and deficiency. It wasn’t truly life, on the contrary, slow death.



Things that occurred in one bowl cum a little liquid in it were the little foods out there, and if you’re fortunate, there could be more or less tiny taters or perhaps any colewort, beetroot topping, tare, or a whole meal.

When it came to the dresses within the Citizen Archipelago, by you, it was owned the dresses arrived with by you – at least the things were allowed, by them, you for holding. After a week of practice, when street clothes unavoidably crumble apart, a peacock was given to arrestees, and it wouldn’t take long for your clothes to be so inconsistent which the inventive flush within your dresses was upward or noticeable.

A sprinkle of non-operating hours would be wasted inside of the quarters. Insects were every time there to strive to find if there is inside one tabernacle or one nozzle inside the floor.

Inside of the Russian work camp, there were very few things that distinguished the vita out of one beast. Moreover, upon demise was one permanent existence, all of the arrestees comprehended that this was the single way they could be freed early. With so many deaths near here, even though one private brigade, whose work was to gather corpses plus pick general tombs, was found.


Chapter 6 – Faithful communists, women, and even kids were ashore in the Archipelago.


When they investigate the existence of distinctive human beings stranded over the isles of the island groups of Russian work camping, 3 strange but not unfamiliar groups show up; women, children, plus these faithful according to the Commie case.

Loyal communists were brought to the fore, especially because they had difficulty coping with the existence of a Russian work camp.

Among these faithful human beings were elder coroners, claimants, rulers, plus stuff of camping. At times there have been ideologists plus doctrinal who advocated the grid which has guided those toward the rigid existence within the Russian work camp. That decline out of blessing became one blow that our self souls might not stand.

They would desperately examine for pragmatizing their self bad luck to hold onto to their beloved homeland. A horrifying error has occurred. Somehow, they were in jail, cum the entire those arrestees who deserved for becoming that place, of course, not with them. The fact that anybody merited finding that place was what they could not admit.

Later, there was an Archipelago female who got regularly abused.

Once one female initially came, she would be removed naked for lice examination and her underarm plus generic bristle was cut. Later, she and other fresh-faced females were going to be shown naked in the aisles so camping personnel might settle whatever female those desired.



Provided that one female refuses for taking a nap cum staff, she will be pushed to do further work, which will inevitably cause them to crawl back and surrender. While just the elderly plus “unattractive” staff could avoid their advance, the different female owned any defending opposite to undesirable guys sub their berth beds.

By you, although the island group of Russian work camp might not be expected for being one location on account of kids, a lot of things were found: In 1927, 48 percent of all arrestees aged 16 to 24 were.

These kids were not always taken from their parents. Most of them were motherless and fatherless or teen guilty who missed their relatives pending the Second Global War and were sent to labor camps made up of many of them. If you’re over 12, you can gain yourself eight years on the island groups to theft, Potatoes, whereas getting cucumbers becomes 5 twelve months of hard work.

In the town of Tallinn, the boy who was doomed to jail camping during nineteen forty-five was just six years old.


Chapter 7 – All the labor in the jail camp was valueless. The just thing that was produced in the Archipelago was degenerate spirits.


Observing that arrestees work 12 hours a day and receive no pay, you may be questioning how effective the plus generator the island group of Russian work camp is at uncovering things like construction ingredients plus farming.

That the work made inside of the Russian work camp is unvalued is the outcome.

Yes, it assisted its political aim for Stalin – to intimidate the commonwealth plus to “tighten discipline” as expected. However, contrarily, they were all idle.

The arrestees were not talented workers, doing abrasive jobs desired by anybody, in isolated areas at a place that anybody other than was going to voluntarily live. For them, it was also a deficiency of the type of encouragement to do the good work capitalism provided.

The thing that the arrestees were great at was to neglect their job and make errors. They did very well at separating spades, trashing cranes, and ravaging their shoes. Badly made bricks broken and thin layers of paint were uncovered immediately, upon hedge masts ensured to fall off, door knobs would unavoidably shatter, and pins of desks plus seats were going to always break.

Degenerate spirits were the just stuff the island groups trustily produced.

Their downfall was just a matter of time, as even the quintessential human thinkable could not stand the tackle for being alive at the Russian work camp. Think about whatever it would be done by you providing that you felt starvation and an insufficient quantity within bread/wafer embarked on the ground. It was adequate for just one of the three arrestees, so your desire for being alive described quarrel for a piece within nasty bread or wafer with your fellow prisoners. Whomever you felt was the era of the Russian work camp, you beat and hurt your next-door-adjacent for being one tiny longer.



Normally, although some tried to avoid the Darwinian tackle within an island group, it was the geographics plus community of Joseph S that made this nearly infeasible.

Even though you might have gotten from the camping, truly no area to go was found. By you, the arid virgin soil within either the Tundra or the infinite, hospitable taiga will be encountered across. Provided that you got fortunate enough to discover a house nearby, the citizens ensured that they would deliver you for the beautiful prize within existence inside of Joseph S.’s beautiful blessing.


Chapter 8 – There were devoted fugitives and those who desired to speak about the vita of the Archipelago.


As the possibility of a thriving escape is low, no more than a shrug will be done by the staff when someone gets lost out of the camping. According to them, an arrestee was cured with less intervention compared to one rambling kine walking around outside the farm.

Eventually, by us, the escaped arrestees haven’t been heard, so, there is not any path within comprehending how many individuals died or reached safety in the wild. If they survive, they wouldn’t tell their tales, because doing so might resonate with them.

However, there were the arrestees who decided for getting away on either one path or another.

In the initial twelve months within vita on the Archipelago, much more hours were spent by most people thinking about the escape, however, the devoted escape opinion within naught more. That was going to occur in their thoughts at each awake hour and frequently visit their own selves’ imagination during the evening.



It was spent on the Archipelago during the daytime in preparation for the escape, by devoted escapes. Death was their main preparation, as this attempt was going to extra lovely destroy those. Everybody saw the corpse-filled with leastways a bombshell retreating to the camp. Sometimes, a fugitive’s body was going to get too filled cum bombshells which just his headpiece was going to be given again and displayed like one stimulating within whatever would happen to anyone else attempting to escape.

A possibility whereof getting shot for one tiny wrong step was every time found. Nor yet, the jailers might get punished immediately if they wrongly sympathized with an arrestee. But what if an arrestee was killed by a guard? No penalty was given to the guard for this.

By some of the captives, it was also determined to document an island group of Russian work camp experimentation plus make one registration on account of future generations.

By the writer, eight years were spent inside of jail camping, pending whatever hour it was written by him one verse that he would read it for himself one time at one month. Those words weren’t forgotten by him.

While many authors were inside of an island group, by a few, it has succeeded in creating remaining hand-writings. Any missing their leaves, while others died era of it might be ended by them a significant job.


Chapter 9 – Those “released” into exile from the archipelago were prisoners, and with the death of Stalin, the Archipelago was once again submerged.


There have already found prisons in our culture. However, nor yet before the limbo rooms plus working camping, a different penalty was found: penalty – the ghastly being sacked of the clan.

Thanks to the author’s studies such as Leo Tolstoy plus Vladimir Lenin, it is known by us whatever the Russian banishment was similar until the Tsarist times. The situations of banishment, as described by Tolstoy, were bearable. According to Lenin, who was banished toward Siberia in 1897, the absence of forced labor did not mean he could type his writings about politics.

In Stalin’s time, banishment plus one inner living in relegation were found for the surviving arrestee who awaited them when they were “released”.

Essentially another country among the Archipelago of Russian Work Camp plus the Soviet homeland, it was this banishment situation; The people who stayed here in the island went out for living out the rest of their years. Usually, this land of internal exile was located in the taiga steppes, inhabited by small colonies, encircled just via hard and barren pastures, and with zero edible growth.



However, every fairy tale has an end and they never return to anything since the Archipelago of Russian Work Camp once went up out of zero.

This decline began via the demise of Josef Stalin on March 5, 1953. Soon most of the Archipelago’s citizens were released back into the community – which created problems for them.

After all this time, they had gotten accustomed to the existence of the Russian Work Camp- they waited for dying – at present, leaving everything behind and readjust were waiting for them: find a job, residence permission, cards for bread… After that, something unimagined happened and it was reunification with relatives plus familiars, lads, plus girls.

It was hoped that their stories would always be told by the natives of the Archipelago. During history, too, it can be seen by us which fact has finally emerged for entire ones for glancing. However, few inhabitants of the Archipelago of Russian Work Camps might have the courage to estimate that the fact will view the gleam in their lives. Thanks to the works of authors such as Leo Tolstoy and Vladimir Lenin, it is known what Russian exile was like until the days of Tsarism by us. The exile conditions were tolerable as described by Tolstoy. For Lenin, who was exiled to Siberia in 1897, the absence of forced labor did not mean that he could write his political essays.


The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: An Experiment in Literary Investigation by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Book Review


Beneath the law of Joseph Stalin, a huge grid with jail labor camps was managed by the Soviet Russian government, covering the whole country, just as one set of tiny isles. That path can be named the Archipelago of Russ Work Camp. In the tough, ruthless atmosphere with those jail cages, hundreds of thousands of human beings who were wrongfully detained for fabricated crimes were housed. These people were sentenced to torment, starvation, limitless labor, and wretched charge, plus a lot were going to be dead before the grid dropped following the death of Josef Stalin.



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