The author Boris Pasternak and his reception in 20th century Germany

Abstract

The poet and writer Boris Pasternak had developed a particularly close connection to Germany and German culture since his youth.
During his two longer stays in Germany, in 1905 and 1912, Pasternak acquired the German language, became familiar with German literature, especially Romanticism, devoted himself first to music, then to the study of philosophy, especially that of Marburg Neo-Kantian Hermann Cohen. Pasternak considered philosophy an important source for his poetry.
From 1946 to 1955 Boris Pasternak worked on his first and only one novel “Doctor Zhivago”. The novel was not allowed to be printed because it was suspected of being critical of the regime in the Soviet Union. The novel was not officially allowed to appear until 1988. Outside of Russia, however, the novel became an instant international success, as “Doctor Zhivago” was translated into 18 languages in quick succession.

In Germany, the success story began as early as 1958, after the first German translation by Reinhold von Walter was published by S. Fischer Verlag Frankfurt am Main. The article discusses how Pasternak and his novel «Doktor Zhivago» were received in Germany and how this novel had a «transcultural» reception effect in Germany in the 20th century