Sample

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Gulag Archipelago, Volume 1

By: Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $44.09

Buy for $44.09

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
activate_WEBCRO358_DT_T2

Publisher's summary

“BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF THE 20TH CENTURY.” —Time

Volume 1 of the gripping epic masterpiece, Solzhenitsyn's chilling report of his arrest and interrogation, which exposed to the world the vast bureaucracy of secret police that haunted Soviet society. Features a new foreword by Anne Applebaum.

“The greatest and most powerful single indictment of a political regime ever leveled in modern times.” —George F. Kennan

“It is impossible to name a book that had a greater effect on the political and moral consciousness of the late twentieth century.” —David Remnick, The New Yorker

“Solzhenitsyn’s masterpiece. . . . The Gulag Archipelago helped create the world we live in today.” —Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gulag: A History, from the foreword

©2015 Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The Gulag Archipelago, Volume 1

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    857
  • 4 Stars
    96
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    710
  • 4 Stars
    86
  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    17
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    777
  • 4 Stars
    54
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A sublime account of unspeakable tragedy.

The somewhat distorted timbre of the audio recording, lacking in definition and dynamic range, hardly detracts from Davidson’s stunningly nuanced performance of Solzhenitsyn’s text.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must listen

In the times we are living and witnessing it's important to heed all the warnings and know most of the signs. On to part 2!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I don't care much for the Narrator

but the story is epic. I think most of it has been absorbed into the modern zeitgeist, but most people won't know why they know.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opening

Feels like the non fiction version of 1984.

Excellent performance and read well, but the background talking or echo was a little distracting at times.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It was like listening to the radio in the 1940s

Excellent book. I’ve been through a lot dealing with US government sub cultures. This helped put a bipartisan perspective on how horrible communism and out of congress government can be. Communities in small numbers doesn’t lead to this type of hatred. This book should be read or listened to in junior high and high school. Looking forward to the next two books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This is what ideology does to the human soul.

It's a haunting reminiscing of the beginning of the horrific events during the communist overtake of Russia. It's a long book, but very much worth reading, and the insights it reveals are extremely valuable for the future generations.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A gift of insight

Listening to the Gulag Archipelago reminds us of the dangers of dehumanizing callousness and the beauty of the simple joys of life. Wonderfully narrated and told. Thank You!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The terrible manifestations of Marxism

Grueling and horrifying. Understanding the differences between the manifestations of socialism/marxism versus capitalism as well as secular versus Judeo-Christian nations cannot be understated. I am surprised and disappointed that it is omitted in American education.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Should be required in schools.

Must listen for all, so history is not forgotten. History is likely to repeat, and yet our society is more worried about likes on social media.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

slow at times but great story

Sad to hear how this has happeded in history. But a fantastic listen. Thanks for the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!