Review: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn

The title is fairly self-explanatory: this small but fascinating novel provides the reader with a detailed account of one day in the life of a Gulag prisoner during the rule of Joseph Stalin.  This novel is short and sweet (only 143 pages in my copy) and gives an excellent first-hand account of what it was like to live in a Gulag – Alexandr Solzhenitsyn was a ‘zek’ (prisoner), himself, and lived in a Gulag during the Second World War until Stalin’s death in 1953.  From working on a building site in freezing temperatures to scrubbing the floors of the guards’ office it is hard to believe that Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, the protagonist, describes this day as a good day.

What I enjoyed most about the book was the straightforward nature of how the plot was delivered.   Despite the fact that the characters are evidently living in truly miserable conditions Shukhov makes barely one complaint throughout the novel.  He is optimistic, always thinking about the future and not about the present.  His prison sentence is ten years and, although he knows that is likely that he could be made to stay for longer, he is surprisingly positive.  In the Gulag, it becomes clear that it’s all about the survival of the fittest and through Shukhov the reader truly learns to appreciate the basic importance of things like a simple crust of bread, a sturdy pair of shoes and doing favours for the more privileged zeks in order to get another meal.

I hardly have any criticisms about this book.  I would say that if you want to learn more about the politics of this period than this isn’t the book for you as it’s simply based around the Gulag and the prisoners there.  Furthermore, it’s quite difficult to read in places as there are lots of names to remember and the language it quite sophisticated.  It’s also not incredibly gripping but then I would also argue that this isn’t that important as its sole purpose is to illustrate the conditions of the Gulag (which is certainly does!)

Rating = 4 stars.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich was a terrific read and it gets lots of brownie points for not being what I expected at all (in a good way).  I think it’s just one of those essential reads.  It gives a flavour of history without being too political (for those who aren’t history lovers like me!)  I would definitely recommend it.


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