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Alexander Dolgun's story: An American in the Gulag Hardcover – January 1, 1975

by Alexander Dolgun (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 89 ratings
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Alexander Dolgun's story: An American in the Gulag
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    370 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Knopf : distributed by Random House
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1975
  5. Dimensions
    7 x 5 x 1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0394494970
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0394494975
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf : distributed by Random House; First Edition (January 1, 1975)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 370 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0394494970
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0394494975
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 5 x 1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 89 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Patrick Watson

    Patrick Watson

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  2. Alexander Dolgun

    Alexander Dolgun

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
89 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

CannyCajuns
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book about an American brutalized in Soviet Russia
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2017
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I love this book. I had to buy another copy as someone took my last copy. If you can, maybe find n edition that has some of his pictures (my old copy had some great photos).

The story is one that makes you appreciate even your worst days, encourages you to soldier on, and realize life is probably much better for you wherever you are in life. However, at the same time it's very well told. You find many characters to love and relate to, as well as many to hate. The jaunt through history, especially the Cold War, is fascinating as well.

History focuses so much on Hitler, we forget there were other dictators, dare I say even more brutal.
9 people found this helpful
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jim lynch
5.0 out of 5 stars tnanks
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2024
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thanks
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Cheryl Adams
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a good book
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2019
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I have read this book twice over the years and am ready to read it again. It is a good story of life in the gulag and what can happen through no fault of one's own, I bought it used and am very satisfied with the condition of the book.
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lindalou
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is riveting. The first few pages start ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2018
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This book is riveting. The first few pages start off rather boringly, but once you get past those pages, it is an incredible story. I first read this book when I was in high school, and it has always been on my mind. I finally decided to re-read it, and I can see why it stayed with me for 40 years.
5 people found this helpful
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Love2Read
4.0 out of 5 stars Dolgun does a very good job of having the reader feel almost present
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2014
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Skips around very much as to timelines, Russian words, slang, etc. It assumes the reader has some idea of the prison system in Russia several decades ago. However, Mr. Dolgun does a very good job of having the reader feel almost present.
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JLE
5.0 out of 5 stars Book - Mark
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2014
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The book was very well written and the author was clear of the horrors that he endured while serving time in a Russian Gulag. After finishing the book, I reflected upon how blessed we are to live the United States where no average citizen is subjected to be picked off the street, interrogated month after month, and then shipped off to a work camp to spend a term of 25 years. He paints a grim picture of these camps where only the strong will survive. Fortunately for Mr. Dolgun he was released during "the thaw" and eventually made his way back to the U.S. The book is rivitting and when you start reading you cannot put it down.
3 people found this helpful
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Jerrygills
5.0 out of 5 stars Alexander Dolgun's Story in the Reader's Digest Condensed Books
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2015
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Back in the 70's I read the Reader's Digest version of Alexander Dolgun's Story to my 9th grade classes but lost my copy over the years. My students were spellbound by the story of a young American file clerk's arrest and detention in Moscow's Lefortovo Prison. Dolgun's arrest was based on nothing more than the fact that he often "pretended" to need a government car which he used for nothing more than sight seeing and goofing off. When Dolgun explained, the KGB thought he was lying. Russians associated autos with status and power and couldn't conceive of anyone lying to use a government car. They figured he was some kind of spy and Dolgun spent years behind bars.
One person found this helpful
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pimphulk
3.0 out of 5 stars love the book
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2013
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I have loved this book for years found a good price on it but will be the last book I buy used on amazon the condition was not as described It was so bad I bought another copy for myself and just gave the used one to my son as he is rough on his books anyways.
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Top reviews from other countries

B. R. Goodlad
5.0 out of 5 stars an american in the gulag
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2008
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Wow, this is an amazing read for anyone interested in the soviet penal system. Solzhenitsyn, Shalamov, & Bardach have written wonderful works on this subject as has Michael Krupa but this tale, told from an American's point of view is utterly un-put downable.
I could feel the pain of the torture in the Moscow prisons, the sleep deprivation, the survival methods he used in the camps, & the final harrassment from NKVD officers right up to his last minutes in Russia before his release.
A FANTASTIC book, probably the one I was most sorry to finish...superb.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars OMG what a story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2021
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I had this years ago and never finished it...such an amazing story
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philip james lynn
5.0 out of 5 stars Brillant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2020
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👍
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MR MICHAEL G EVERETT
5.0 out of 5 stars I have read other accounts of the gulag, but ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2015
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I have read other accounts of the gulag, but due to the author's nationality and outlook it gives a different perspective, which is very helpful.
One person found this helpful
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louis corallo
4.0 out of 5 stars I could not sleep
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2013
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The story is almost too hard to believe except that he writes with such honesty, admitting that there are some parts that he can remember with such clarity, others are just shades of information that he can make out from the years of torture which often involved being forced to stay awake for days on end in freezing conditions.
The book left me feeling silly, realizing that there are more difficult perils in life, but in essence it reminds me to stay strong and work my way through the challenges in life. This conclusion is of course incredibly cheesy but what Alexander goes through is inhuman, it is astounding how he and many others managed to hold onto their humanity in an environment that did everything it can to destroy the human spirit.
I really enjoyed this book despite the ill fated theme. I would and do recommend this book to others.
4 people found this helpful
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