Aleksandr Zinovyev
Aleksandr Zinovyev (1922-2006) was a prominent Russian philosopher, writer, and critic of the Soviet regime. Born in Pakhtina, Russia, as the sixth of eleven children, he displayed an early inclination toward philosophical inquiry but faced severe repercussions for his dissenting views against Joseph Stalin, which led to his expulsion from university and subsequent imprisonment. After escaping custody, he served in the military during World War II and later pursued an academic career, earning a doctorate in philosophy and teaching at Moscow State University.
Zinovyev's literary work, particularly his notable novel "The Yawning Heights," critiqued Communist philosophy and the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev, resulting in the suppression of his publications and the loss of his academic positions. From 1978 to 1990, he lived in exile in Germany, where he continued writing and received several literary accolades. Upon returning to Russia, he engaged in public life and was elected vice president of the Russian Academy of Literature. Throughout his career, Zinovyev provided insightful commentary on the complexities of Soviet society, exploring the tensions and challenges faced by individuals within the Communist framework. His legacy remains significant as a voice of dissent and reflection on the Soviet experience.
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Subject Terms
Aleksandr Zinovyev
Writer
- Born: September 29, 1922
- Birthplace: Pakhtina, Russia
- Died: May 10, 2006
Biography
Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Zinovyev was born September 29, 1922, in Pakhtina, Russia, the sixth of eleven children born to Aleksandr Yakovlevich, a housepainter and laborer, and Appolinariya Vasilyevna Smirnova, a peasant. In 1939, Zinovyev entered the philosophy department at the Moscow Institute of Philosophy, Literature, and History, but he only stayed for two months. When he spoke out against Joseph Stalin, he was expelled and sent to a psychiatric clinic, then arrested and imprisoned. Zinovyev escaped from prison and spent several months evading authorities before beginning a decorated six-year military career in 1940. In 1943, Zinovyev married Nina Kalinina, with whom he had a son, Valerii. The couple later divorced.
After Zinovyev was discharged in 1946, he worked at several odd jobs while attending Moscow University, where he graduated with honors from the Department of Philosophy in 1951. In 1951, Zinovyev married Tamara Filatyeva, and had a daughter, Tamara, born in 1954. The couple divorced in 1960. In 1967, Zinovyev married Olga Sorokina and they had two children, Polina and Ksenia.
Zinovyev completed graduate school in 1954 and received a position in the Institute of Philosophy of the Academy of Sciences. After receiving his doctorate of philosophy degree in 1962, Zinovyev also served as a faculty member and chairman of the Department of Mathematical Logic at Moscow State University and was a member of the editorial board of the journal Voprosy filosofii (questions of philosophy).
When Zinovyev resigned from the journal in 1968 to protest to suppression of the Communist reform movement known as the “Prague Spring,” authorities removed him from his departmental chairmanship. His work was discredited, his numerous publications were banned, and all reference to his works was prohibited. Zinovyev’s novel Ziiaiuschchie vysoty (1976; The Yawning Heights, 1979) was viewed as an attack on communist philosophy and Leonid Brezhnev’s leadership of the Soviet Union. Zinovyev was dismissed from his university position and the Academy of Sciences, and he was stripped of his doctoral degree, military medals, titles, and state awards.
From 1978 until 1990, Zinovyev and his family lived in exile in Munich, Germany, where he taught at the university and published several books. Zinovyev received the Prix Europeen de l’essai in 1977 and Best European Novel Award in 1978 for Ziiaiuschchie vysoty. He received the Prix Medicis for literature in 1978 and the Tocqueville Prize in 1982, as well as medals of honor from Italy and France, and labor medals. In 1992, Zinovyev’s 1989 novel, Zhivi! (live!), received the Premio Tevere.
In 1990, Zinovyev’s citizenship was restored and he returned to Moscow, where he was elected vice president of the Russian Academy of Literature. His popularity grew and, in 2000, he lost the election for president of the Russian Republic by a technicality.
Zinovyev critiqued the leadership of the Soviet Union as well as the attempts at reform. He provided an insider’s view of the complexities, shortcomings, and impact on the daily lives of the citizens dealing with the Soviet Union’s Communist society.