Gulag by Anne Applebaum excels in its thorough research and compelling narrative, offering an exhaustive history of Soviet labor camps. Critics commend its depth and engaging prose but note the extensive detail can be overwhelming. Overall, it's a vital, well-documented account of a dark chapter in history.

Readers fascinated by history, especially Soviet-era studies, will find Anne Applebaum's Gulag captivating. This comprehensive examination of the USSR’s prison camp system appeals to those who enjoyed Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago and Orwell's 1984. Ideal for anyone seeking a profound understanding of oppressive regimes.

Gulag by Anne Applebaum is a comprehensive examination of the Soviet Union's forced labor camp system from its inception in the early 1920s to its dissolution post-World War II. Using archival research and first-person accounts, Applebaum explores the ideological and political roots of the Gulag, the brutal day-to-day realities faced by prisoners, and the system's eventual decline. The book highlights themes of state repression, the intersection of ideology and power, and human resilience.

The book discusses forced labor, systemic torture, political repression, physical and psychological suffering, sexual violence, and suicide.

Informative / Dark / Unnerving / Mysterious / Melancholic

Anne Applebaum

Adult

Book

Nonfiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore Gulag and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Gulag Summary and Study Guide

Background

Gulag Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “The Origins of the Gulag, 1917-1939”

Introduction-Part 1, Chapter 6

Gulag Introduction-Part 1, Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Life and Work in the Camps”

Part 2, Chapters 7-12

Gulag Part 2, Chapters 7-12 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 13-18

Gulag Part 2, Chapters 13-18 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “The Rise and Fall of the Camp-Industrial Complex, 1940-1986”

Part 3, Chapters 19-23

Gulag Part 3, Chapters 19-23 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapter 24-Epilogue

Gulag Part 3, Chapter 24-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

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Key Figures

Gulag Key Figures

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Themes

Gulag Themes

Index of Terms

Gulag Index of Terms

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Important Quotes

Gulag Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Gulag Essay Topics

Gulag: A History

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Gulag?

Reading Age

Book Details