Zhivago
Zhivago refers to the protagonist of Boris Pasternak's 1957 novel *Doctor Zhivago*, a Russian physician and poet caught in the upheavals of the Russian Revolution.
The name evokes romantic tragedy, artistic idealism crushed by political forces, and sweeping historical drama—associations reinforced by the 1965 film adaptation: He fancies himself a Zhivago, torn between love and duty.
Female name, Latin origin
- YuriRussian male name
- love triangleThree-person romantic entanglement
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- passionIntense emotional drive
yearning · devotion · separation · longing · heartache · Tonya · forbidden love · wartime romance
- LaraFemale name, Latin origin
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
balalaika · ice palace · snowscape · soundtrack · Oscar · widescreen · intermission · restoration
Russian author, Nobel declined
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
- samizdatClandestine dissident publishing
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- smuggledMoved goods illegally
poetry · prose · Lara · Yuri · Tonya · manuscript · publication · controversy
Soviet founding upheaval
- BolsheviksLenin's revolutionary party
- TsarRussian imperial title
- 1917Late Great War
- Civil WarCountrymen fighting countrymen
Red Army · Moscow · Siberia · Lenin · October Revolution · partisan · train journey · upheaval
Russian male name
- versesLines of poetry
- lyricalMusically expressive
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- creativityCapacity for original thought
artist · sensitivity · expression · symbolism · Pasternak · spiritual · nature imagery
Lara
Female name, Latin origin
- YuriRussian male name
- love triangleThree-person romantic entanglement
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
passion · yearning · devotion · separation · longing · heartache · Tonya · forbidden love · wartime romance · reunion
Omar Sharif
- LaraFemale name, Latin origin
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- epicImpressively grand in scope
sweeping · balalaika · ice palace · snowscape · soundtrack · Oscar · widescreen · intermission · restoration
Pasternak
Russian author, Nobel declined
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
- samizdatClandestine dissident publishing
- bannedOfficially disallowed
smuggled · poetry · prose · Lara · Yuri · Tonya · manuscript · publication · controversy · Soviet censorship
Russian Revolution
Soviet founding upheaval
- BolsheviksLenin's revolutionary party
- TsarRussian imperial title
- 1917Late Great War
Civil War · Red Army · Moscow · Siberia · Lenin · October Revolution · partisan · train journey · upheaval · exile
Yuri
Russian male name
- versesLines of poetry
- lyricalMusically expressive
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
creativity · artist · sensitivity · expression · symbolism · Pasternak · spiritual · nature imagery