61 pages • 2 hours read
Doctor Zhivago
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
592
Novel • Fiction
Russia • 1910s-1940s
1957
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak follows Yuri Zhivago as he navigates love and loss amidst the Russian Revolution and Civil War, encountering various relationships and political challenges, while ultimately facing questions of personal and political loyalty. The novel explores themes of war, revolution, love, and the passage of time, and includes references to torture, gun violence, and death by suicide.
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Romantic
Mysterious
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
100,584 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago receives praise for its poetic language, emotional depth, and historical scope, capturing the tumult of the Russian Revolution. However, critiques often mention its convoluted plot and dense prose as challenging. Overall, it's celebrated as a profound yet demanding read that richly rewards patient readers.
Who Should Read Doctor Zhivago?
A reader who enjoys Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak is likely drawn to sweeping historical epics with deep emotional and philosophical undercurrents. Fans of works like War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy or The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov will appreciate its intricate character development, complex narrative, and rich depiction of early 20th-century Russia.
100,584 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Lara (Larisa Fyodorovna Antipova)
Lara (Larisa Fyodorovna Antipova)
Lara is an ambitious and intelligent woman deeply affected by her socio-economic circumstances, entangled in complex personal relationships amid the revolution.
Pasha Antipov (Strelnikov)
Pasha Antipov (Strelnikov)
Pasha is a devoted husband to Lara, whose transformation into the ruthless Strelnikov during the Russian Revolution represents the impact of societal upheavals on individuals.
Viktor Komarovsky
Viktor Komarovsky
Viktor Komarovsky is a shrewd and opportunistic lawyer who becomes involved with several key characters, navigating the era's political shifts with self-serving motives.
592
Novel • Fiction
Russia • 1910s-1940s
1957
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.