The Secrets We Kept

by Lara Prescott

That Boris had rejected socialist realism in favor of writing characters who lived and loved by their hearts’ intent, independent of the State’s influence.

During the many times I’ve read DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, what has stuck me the most were the ways in which Boris Pasternak conveyed the importance of free thought. Through the life of Yuri Zhivago, Pasternak demonstrates that the yearning for freedom remains an indestructible force—in spite of political systems that seek to repress it. This theme indeed went against Soviet norms. To me, Zhivago is more about life and love than politics. It's about individuals who think and laugh and love for themselves, no matter the cost. That said, reading the book today feels just as relevant as it was when first published in 1957.