Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's achievements are nothing short of historic. He was the first Russian writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature since 1933, a feat that underscored his global impact. His works have sold over 50 million copies worldwide, making him one of the most widely read authors of the 20th century. TIME magazine named him one of the "100 Most Important People of the 20th Century" in 1998. His ability to expose the brutal realities of the Soviet Gulag system through literature changed the course of history and inspired countless others to fight for freedom and human rights.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn receiving an award

AwardsSolzhenitsyn received numerous accolades throughout his life. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970 for the ethical force with which he pursued the indispensable traditions of Russian literature. Other major awards include the Lenin Peace Prize (awarded posthumously in 2008), the Order of St. Andrew (the highest Russian honor, awarded in 1994 upon his return), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (awarded by President George W. Bush in 2001). He received numerous honorary degrees from universities worldwide, including Harvard, Oxford, and Yale. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received the Templeton Prize in 1997 for his contributions to spiritual understanding.

Honours & Distinctions

Order of St. Andrew

Russian Federation·1994

Highest Russian honor awarded upon his return to Russia

Presidential Medal of Freedom

United States Government·2001

Awarded by President George W. Bush for his contributions to freedom

Templeton Prize

Templeton Foundation·1997

Recognized for his contributions to spiritual understanding

Honorary Degree

Harvard University·1978

Doctor of Humane Letters

Honorary Degree

Oxford University·1972

Doctor of Civil Law

Honorary Degree

Yale University·1974

Doctor of Humanities

Rankings & Lists

100 Most Important People of the 20th Century

TIME Magazine·1998

Most Influential Russians

Various Publications·2008

Magazine Covers

TIME

1974-03-18

The Man Who Challenged the Soviet Union

The New York Times Magazine

1975-06-15

Solzhenitsyn in Exile

The Atlantic

1976-09-01

The Return of the Prodigal Son

Records & Feats

First Russian Writer to Win Nobel Prize Since 1933

Awards·1970

Broke a 37-year drought for Russian recipients of the Nobel Prize in Literature

Most Sold Author on Soviet Dissident Literature

Sales·2008

Sold over 50 million copies of his works worldwide

Longest-Serving Gulag Survivor turned Author

Career Milestone·1973

Spent 8 years in the Gulag and went on to write the definitive account of the system