Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s Cancer Ward is a powerful allegory of life under Soviet rule, set in a provincial hospital where patients struggle with their illnesses—and with the oppressive political system. The novel follows Oleg Kostoglotov, a political exile and cancer patient, as he navigates the rigid and bureaucratic hospital environment. Through the lives of the patients and doctors, Solzhenitsyn paints a deeply human portrait of suffering, resilience, and the search for freedom in an unfree society.

Why read this book?

• A compelling exploration of illness as a metaphor for political oppression.

• Offers a deeply personal and philosophical reflection on mortality and survival.

• Written by a Nobel Prize-winning author who exposed the horrors of Soviet totalitarianism.

• A thought-provoking and emotionally gripping read.

About the Author

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) was a Russian writer, historian, and critic of the Soviet Union. He is best known for The Gulag Archipelago, which exposed the brutal realities of Soviet labor camps. His works, including Cancer Ward, were censored in the USSR but gained worldwide acclaim for their powerful critique of totalitarianism.