Guy De Mallac

Guy de Mallack narrates the evolution of Pasternak's spiritual philosophy as interwoven in his poetry and prose. Historical events in Pasternak's life serve as an accompanying foundation to Mallack's narration. Eventually, Pasternak stood against Stalin, retreating into translation when necessary. Pasternak tells us via quotations that Zhivago was the ultimate realization of his spiritual evolution. Brought up in a secular Jewish household, Pasternak's nanny was responsible for introducing him to the Russian Orthodox religion which Pasternak, upon his second marriage, embraced. However, this embrace excluded dogma. The last chapter in this book offers a heavy concluding examination of Pasternak's artistic philosophy. I found parts of it obtuse, having t0 re-read certain sections. Overall, I found the biography satisfying and informative. Sadly, I could find only two other biographies of Pasternak written after the fall of the Soviet Union, one of them $50 a volume, printed in England. Let us hope to see more biographies of one of the most important writers of the 20th century.… (mehr)