Alexander Solzhenitsyn dies at 89

[bijou]

Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who exposed Stalin's prison system in his novels and spent 20 years in exile, has died at 89, Russian media say.

The author of One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich and the Gulag Archipelago, who returned to Russia in 1994, reportedly died of a stroke.

The Nobel laureate had suffered from high blood pressure in recent years.

...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7540038.stm

RIP

[franksolich]

This is very sad, but of course inveitable.

I always considered Alexandr Solzhenitsyn one of the three greatest cerebral giants of the 20th century.

I've collected and read every single one of his books, and I was many times told, when wandering around the socialist paradises of the workers and peasants, that while translated into English, his works when read in Russian are even more remarkable, more witty, more penetrating.

But they are awesome in English too.  One wonder how they could be any better.

[Lord Undies]

I thought he was long dead.  I thought he would be older than 89.  I shouldn't think so much. 

RIP, sir.

[Ptarmigan]

Alexander Solzhenitsyn deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. He is a truly a great writer. I have not read his whole book, but I am sure it is worth it. My condolences to Alexander Solzhenitsyn's family and relatives. RIP Alexander Solzhenitsyn.