The First Circle
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The First Circle (В круге первом, V kruge pervom) is a novel by Alexander Solzhenitsyn released in 1968, the title of which is based on a quotation from Dante. It describes three or so days in the life of the occupants of the Mavrino sharashka, many of whom are technicians or academics who have been arrested under Article 58 of the RSFSR Penal Code under Stalin in the years following the Second World War. The zeks endure often inhumane conditions and work on various projects to assist the state security organs and generally pander to Stalin's increasing paranoia.
The book is unique in that there are no evil characters (not even Stalin himself). Also, even while describing grim conditions, the author remains cool-headed and often humorous throughout, despite having endured similar conditions in his own life.
External link
- The Book in Russian, 1st part (http://lib.ru/PROZA/SOLZHENICYN/vkp1.txt) - 2nd part (http://lib.ru/PROZA/SOLZHENICYN/vkp2.txt)