Ruth Ashby’s Reviews > The Gulag Archipelago [Volume 1]: An Experiment in Literary Investigation > Status Update
Ruth Ashby
is on page 80 of 701
It’s hard for me to believe that this stuff actually happened.
Solzhenitsyn is a fantastic writer, and I appreciate that the book has the advantage of his skill in that area as well as his personal experience with the topic. Makes it easier to read.
— Jun 30, 2025 09:15PM
Solzhenitsyn is a fantastic writer, and I appreciate that the book has the advantage of his skill in that area as well as his personal experience with the topic. Makes it easier to read.
![The Gulag Archipelago [Volume 1]: An Experiment in Literary Investigation](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594753266l/54511405._SY75_.jpg)
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Lila
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Jul 01, 2025 09:36PM
You'll have to let me know if reading the whole book seems worth it. I know Oliver recommends a certain abridged version, but if you say this is really good then I'll take your word for it!
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I’d be very interested to know which abridged version. Judging by what I’ve read so far, I think that would be more doable and probably have just as much value for me. I’m glad Solzhenitsyn wrote these books as long as they are to fully record of that piece of Russian history, but I do think that not all the details he includes are necessary to get the main message of the book.
If I recall correctly, the abridgement Oliver recommended was done by Solzhenitsyn himself 🤔 so I'd be inclined to trust it. I've only read Vol 1 of the complete work, but I agree with Ruth that it is a little wordy.
Liliana, I just checked and you're right. It's right here: The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956Maybe if we were Russian the wordiness would be more relevant and therefore have more value for us 🤷
