vfw voice of democracy winning essays

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

2024-2025 Theme Coming March 2024

Established in 1947, our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$15,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Want to apply?

VOD Deadlines:

Midnight, October 31, Entries to the Post

  December 13, District Winners due to Department Chairman

Rules and Eligibility Requirements: VOD Rules / Eligibility

Download the 2024-2025 VOD Entry Form here: Coming soon

Voice of Democracy National Awards List

DO NOT mail District entries and required forms to State Headquarters.  Mail them directly to the State Voice of Democracy Chairman!

POST PARTICIPATION REPORTING PACKET

DISTRICT PARTICIPATION REPORTING PACKET (by POST):

DISTRICT VOD / PP WINNER REPORT:

Click Here 

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Voice of Democracy

2023-2024 theme, "what are the greatest attributes of our democracy".

Voice of Democracy Program

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy (VOD) audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.3 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000.

Before submitting your essay, read  the rules and eligibility requirements , and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . Download and complete the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy entry form here .

2022-2023 National VFW Voice of Democracy Winner

Scotland Stewart, a sophomore at Franklin County High School in Winchester, Tennessee,, was named the 2022-2023 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Scotland’s speech on the theme, “Why is the Veteran Important?” won him a $35,000 college scholarship. Scotland was sponsored by VFW Post 1893 in Estill Springs, Tennessee. Watch as Scotland delivered his speech during the VFW’s Parade of Winners award  ceremony or read it here .

VFW Scholar's App

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Voice of democracy.

Established in 1947, our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, read  the rules and eligibility requirements , and return to Post 1160 as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 .  Download and complete the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy entry form here .

The 2023-24 theme is:  "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"

About the 2022-2023 winner ...

Scotland Stewart, a sophomore at Franklin County High School in Winchester, Tennessee,, was named the 2022-2023 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Scotland’s speech on the theme, "Why is the Veteran Important?" won him a $35,000 college scholarship. Scotland was sponsored by VFW Post 1893 in Estill Springs, Tennessee.  Watch as Scotland delivered his speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award  ceremony or  read it here .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full  Parade of Winners ceremony  which was streamed live on Facebook, or  see this year's complete list of winners .

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 80,000 high school students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.  The national first place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.   The 2023-24 theme is "What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?".  Want to apply?  Read the rules and eligibility requirement on the Entry Form below.   VOD/PP Chairman's Manual   VOD Entry Form and Requirements VOD District to Department Summary Sheet VOD District to Department Awards Form VOD Post Score Sheet   VOD-PP Donation Flyer

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.3 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

In Michigan, one student from each of the VFW's 12 districts will compete on the state level, each winning a minimum scholarship of $1,000. The state winner will go on to compete at nationals.  The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.

The Michigan 2024 Voice of Democracy winner was Eddy Holcomb , from Portland High School in VFW District 9 and submitted by VFW Post 4090!  He will also represent Michigan in Washington D.C., where he will compete against winners from all 53 VFW Departments.

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  2023-2024 Voice of Democracy Program

"What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

All information pertaining to the theme, judging, eligibility, awards, and other aspects of this program are contained in the Veterans of Foreign Wars program booklet for the Annual Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program.  District Commanders are responsible to ensure that their District Chairman are conducting their programs within these rules and deadlines.  District Commanders are solely responsible for the conduct of the programs within their Districts.  Make sure that copies of this program are distributed to all the Posts within your District in sufficient time to ensure that there is a successful competition.

The Voice of Democracy program is a joint program with the VFW Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Michigan. The Auxiliary does not need the permission of a Post to participate in the program.  Post and District Chairman are expected to include their VFW Auxiliary Counterparts in all activities concerning the conduct of the local and District programs.  Coordination of the District program is the responsibility of the District Commanders and District Chairman.  Post Chairman must refer to their District program for the program requirements and deadlines.

Judging the Contest

The suggested number of judges is five to nine, with a minimum of three.  Judges should be from outside your Posts and Auxiliaries and should represent your community.  Judges must not in any way be connected to the students in the competition.  Set the date for your judging and invite the judges at least 60 days in advance.  Remind them a week before the competition with a letter or email, and two days before with a phone call.

Eligibility

Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade students in public, private, parochial, and home schools in the State of Michigan. Former first place winners at the State and National level of competition or any Foreign Exchange students are not eligible.  Students do not have to be relatives of a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars or its VFW Auxiliary to participate.

Recorded Essays must not be less than three minutes and not longer than five minutes.  A five second variation is acceptable to compensate for the possible deviation in equipment.  Essays must be recorded on full size standard flash drive only.  Essays must be recorded without music or background voices. Students must not use their names, the name or location of the sponsoring VFW Post, or the name or location of their school.  Recordings must not include any introduction to the essay.  The only voice on the recording must be that of the students. Special consideration may be given for students that are speech challenged upon written request through the District to the Department Director.   Scripts should be recorded using the best possible equipment available. Post and District Chairman are responsible for the content and quality of the entry.  Every effort should be made to submit the best quality entry possible.  Please note:  Cassette tapes and CDs are no longer accepted by the Department or National.   Make certain your recording has absolutely no background noise whatsoever. 

To receive credit for participation in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, a Post must sponsor the program in their community.  While it is important to offer the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program in our schools, it is not solely a program for the schools.  You may offer the competition to any ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade student.  All entries must be submitted directly to the Post.  They may be sponsored through local schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church youth groups, Junior ROTC programs, the home schooled, etc.  Posts are encouraged to solicit participants from as many sources as possible.  The Post will hold their own judging and may submit to the District the number of students permitted by the following:

·        1-15 Student Participants:  1 Top Post entry is allowed to advance to District.

·        16-30 Student Participants: 2 Top Post entries are allowed to advance to District.

·        31-45 Student Participants: 3 Top Post entries are allowed to advance to District, etc.

Note:  No Limit

Posts may advance as many winners as they select based on the total number of students participating.  Post judging is the responsibility of the Post Chairman and must be conducted in accordance with the National Judging Criteria.  The Post may forward each first-place winning entry to the District.  Each student entry submitted by a Post to the District must be an equal first place winner. This means that each Post student entry must receive the same award.  For example, a Post has fifty-five student entries and is eligible to send four entries to the District for judging.  Those four entries must each receive an equal first place award from the Post.  If the Post lists them as first, second, third and fourth place, then they can only send in one entry as the first-place winner.  Note: First place Post winner’s entry packets must include a completed Student Biographical Questionnaire, School Release Form and Wallet size photo when sent to the District.  Post packets will not be accepted unless complete.

School/Youth Group Competition Alternatives

We offer teachers/youth leaders the option to use the Voice of Democracy as writing exercise.  The teacher/leader may submit all the entries to the Post for judging or conduct a judging within the group or class and advance a winner for every fifteen participants as shown above.  Note:  The Post Chairman should make this decision working closely with the teacher or group leader.

Each District shall be responsible for the conduct of the program and judging of entries within their District.  District Chairman are expected to promote the expansion of the program by encouraging the participation of additional Posts.  It is not always possible to restrict sponsorship strictly along VFW District Boundaries.  Posts may solicit student participation from any geographical area within the State of Michigan if they do not interfere with the sponsorship of other Posts.  District Chairman are expected to assist Posts in the coordination of sponsorship of all schools in the District.  It is unacceptable that a school is not contacted.  Each District may submit only one entry to the Department for judging. This entry must be certified on the proper National Entry Form by the District Chairman to be the District First place winner of the District Program Judging.  The following items MUST  accompany the District Entry to the Department for Judging:

·        One Student Essay taped in accordance with the above rules.

·        One completed student entry from the National Program Booklet.

·        A quality head and shoulder photograph, wallet size only.

·        One typed copy of the student’s essay.

·        One signed Student Release Form (Link below).

·        One Student Biographical Questionnaire must accompany your District Winner.

It is the responsibility of District Chairman to ensure that all materials are included.  Any entry that does not include all the required above items may not be judged.

To obtain program credit the Post Chairman portion of the Student Entry Form must be completed and submitted to the District with each Post entry.  The form must include the number of students participating from the school and the approximate cost for the program and awards.  Proper credit cannot be given without this information.  District Chairman are required to submit a consolidated report of Post participation within their District using the District Report form and the District Summary Form.  The reports MUST accompany the District Entry to Department.  It is the responsibility of the Post, District, and Department Adjutants to input their Voice of Democracy entries into the All-American Dashboard.  This is to include all monetary values spent on this event.  Failure to do so can cause the Post, District, and/or Department to show a NOT MET in this category.

The deadline for Post sponsored entries is October 31, 2023.   Post judging may not be held before November 1, 2023, and must be completed in time to ensure that winning entries are delivered to the District Chairman by November 16, 2023.    District judging may not be held before November 16, 2023 , and must be completed in time to ensure that the winning entry with all required materials are in the hands of the Department Director by December 16, 2023.   The Department deadline for District entries is December 16, 2023 .  This deadline is absolute, and it includes all paperwork.  Department judging will be closed and will be the responsibility of the Department Committee. Please be advised that the state judging will be attended only by the VFW Department Committee members, VFW State Auxiliary Committee members, and the State Judges.  The Committee has the authority to disqualify from the Department judging any entry which is in violation of the rules as stated in the Department Program and the National Program Booklet.

All Post and District awards are the responsibility of those organizations.  Department awards will be presented at the 2024 Department of Michigan Mid-Winter Conference.  All District winners are expected to be present.  Each District must assume the cost of their winner’s transportation, meals, and lodging.  Department will provide each District winner with one banquet ticket.  Banquet tickets for family members and other guests are the sole responsibility of the District in cooperation with the sponsoring Post.

Michael Martin, Director

199 East 34 th St, Apt 2

Holland MI 49423

616-594-9151

[email protected]

Denise Arnold, Auxiliary Chair

9525 E River Rd

Mt Pleasant MI 48858

989-621-0327

[email protected]

FILLABLE  ENTRY FORM

STUDENT BIOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONNAIRE

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives. 

Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year's theme is,  "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"

  Each year nearly 1,000 students enter this contest in North Carolina through one of our 138 VFW Posts across the state. After the Post level, if your essay was chosen as the Post winner, you will move on to compete with other Post winners from within your District. Each District will then choose 1 winner to represent that District at the Department level. 

  Each District winner will be invited, along with 2 guests, to a banquet that we hold in your honor at our February Council of Administration meeting (Room included) where we will announce the State Winner. 

  Thanks to the  Veterans Foundation of North Carolina , we award a total of $24,000 in scholarships with the winner receiving a $6,000 scholarship ($1,000 of this comes from the Mr. and Mrs. James H Black Voice of Democracy Grant) and every District winner receiving at least a $1,000 scholarship! The winner will also move on to represent the North Carolina VFW at the National level and compete for the $30,000 scholarship grand prize!

Eligibility

Score Sheet

For further information, please contact our Department Chairman, Scott Seddon

Phone: 757-348-1341

Email: [email protected]

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

2023-2024 Voice of Democracy (High School Essay Contest)

"What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy"

The VFW invites students in grades 9-12 to express themselves about democratic ideas and principles. The District winners will attend a banquet for VFW student scholarships in January where the top five essays are recognized and monetary prizes are awarded. The first-place student will present the winning essay and will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to join the other state winners for special activities. As part of this contest program, the VFW holds the Voice of Democracy Teacher of the Year Contest, which gives recognition to a teacher who encourages students to participate in the contest.

2023-2024 VOD Program Click Here

2023-2024 VOD Entry Form Click Here

2023-2024 VOD Perpetual Scholarship Form Click Here

The score sheet for judging can be found here .

 NOTE: PA has due dates different than those publicized by the National VFW!

       October 31, 2023- The student deadline for Entry is midnight.

       November 18, 2023 -Post judging completed.

       December 3, 2023    District judging completed.

       December 9, 2023, District Winner entry form, flash drive of essay, typed essay, head and shoulder photo of good quality, District summary report and District participation report must be sent to the Department Chairman: 

Thomas "Ace" Hanzes

VFW Post 7599 (28)

106 N. 16th Street

Greenville, PA.  16125

724-646-3072

[email protected]

December 11, 2023-Department judging 

January 15, 2024-Department Winner and Reports submitted to VFW National HQ

January 20, 2024-Annual Voice of Democracy Banquet-DoubleTree by Hilton-Pittsburgh Cranberry

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2023-2024 VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Please be advised the top three VFW national Voice of Democracy scholarships have been raised $5k each, bringing the total national scholarship amount to $171,000.

1st Place $35,000 T.C. Selman Memorial Scholarship

2nd Place $21,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship

3rd Place $15,000 VFW Scholarship

Voice of Democracy -- "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"

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Voice of Democracy award given

VFW Post 1607, representing Southbury and Woodbury, presented Marlo Gabriele, a ninth grade student at Pomperaug High School, with the first place award for her Voice of Democracy essay for the 2023-2024 year.

The subject of this year’s essay was, “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?”

The award presentation took place at the VFW Post Hall on March 17.

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves regarding a democratic and patriotic theme.

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• Youth & Education

Youth Scholarships

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

Voice of Democracy

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the  2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"

About the 2023-2024 winner ...

Sophia Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was named the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Sophia's speech on the theme, "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?" won her a $35,000 college scholarship. Sophia was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513. Watch as Sophia delivered her speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award  ceremony or read it here .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full Parade of Winners ceremony which was streamed live on Facebook, or see this year's complete list of winners .

Patriot's Pen

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! 

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay,  download the 2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, Ohio, was named the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Inspired by America?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Bryant was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio.

Watch as Bryant delivered his winning essay during the VFW's Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or read  his essay here.  See the complete list of 2024 national winners .

Youth Scholarships Additional Resources

2023-2024 VOD Winners

Voice of democracy entry form, voice of democracy national scholarship listing, 2023-2024 patriot's pen winners, patriot's pen entry form, patriot's pen national scholarship listing, sponsor a youth scholarship.

After I had drafted the essay “Moscow to the End of the Line”, a Russian literature scholar, Brian Baer, called my attention to an English translation of a biography of Doctor Zhivago ’s Italian publisher, Giangiacomo Feltrinelli ( Feltrinelli: A Story of Riches, Revolution, and Violent Death , translated by Alastair McEwan, Harcourt, 2002). The biography was written by Carlo Feltrinelli, who is the late publisher’s son and has been running the publishing company his father had founded. The passages regarding the publication of Doctor Zhivago are a defense of his father’s and the company’s behavior, and also part of the biography’s emotional objective of wrestling with a question that has troubled many a son: Was my father a good person? Therefore the information provided in the biography and the interpretations this information is brought in to advance might be considered more suspect than, say, the view of the Russian professor recalled at the beginning of the essay.

Nonetheless, herewith a few observations and bits of “information” which readers intrigued by the Zhivago story may find of interest:

• There appears to have been not one telegram, but many telegrams and letters exchanged by Pasternak and Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, as well as at least one letter from Feltrinelli to Goslitizdat, a Soviet government-run publishing agency. Pasternak and his mistress Olga Ivinskaya also had many conversations with people either directly representing Feltrinelli or in touch with him. Pasternak’s written messages appear to have been contradictory, some urging publication and others requesting that it be delayed until the book had come out in the Soviet Union or until he had time to make further revisions.

• The Feltrinelli line is that the anti-publication messages were coerced, and thus that in going ahead with publishing the original text—ignoring any negative messages as well as the lobbying of members of the Italian Communist Party and others—Giangiacomo abided by Pasternak’s true wishes. This position is backed up by quotes from various apparent communications, including these words and exclamation points from a previously unpublished November 1957 letter from Pasternak to Feltrinelli:

Dear Sir, I can find no words with which to express my gratitude. The future will reward us, you and me, for the vile humiliations we have suffered. Oh, how happy I am that [you have not] been fooled by those idiotic and brutal appeals accompanied by my signature (!), a signature all but false and counterfeit, insofar as it was extorted from me by a blend of fraud and violence. The unheard-of arrogance to wax indignant over the “violence” employed by you against my “literary freedom”, when exactly the same violence was being used against me, covertly. And that this vandalism should be disguised as concern for me, for the sacred rights of the artist! But we shall soon have an Italian Zhivago, French, English and German Zhivagos—and one day perhaps a geographically distant but Russian Zhivago! And this is a great deal, a very great deal, so let’s do our best, and what will be will be!

• Of course Carlo may have stressed the volume and contradictoriness of the exchanges, including quoting at length from possibly self-serving translations of (possibly fabricated?) telegrams and letters, in order to downplay the significance of what Carlo refers to as the “extorted telegram” of late summer 1957. In this telegram Pasternak asks that the manuscript in Feltrinelli’s possession—the one Giangiacomo went ahead and published—be returned, saying that it was a “preliminary draft requiring thorough revision.” This telegram was followed up by a stronger communication from Pasternak, dated late October, just weeks before the book hit the stands in Italy and the letter above was written. In this communication, Pasternak wrote:

Your failure to reply [to the previous telegram] makes me think that, in spurning the direct instructions of the author and in spite of his clear and express wishes, you have nonetheless decided to publish the novel. . . . Decency demands that the author’s wishes be respected. Neither I nor any other writer from my country could allow his manuscript to be published against his will. This would be a clearcut and crass infringement of the rights an artist has over his work, a violation of his will and the freedom of that which flows from his pen.

• As his father before him seems to have, Carlo relies greatly on the idea that when the relationship with Pasternak was beginning, Giangiacomo had proposed that only messages—or at least only messages from Pasternak—that were written in French would be considered valid. Thus, for instance, knowing this, Olga—confident or hoping that Feltrinelli would ignore messages in Italian or Russian—might have allowed Soviet authorities to pressure Pasternak into sending Feltrinelli negative messages in such languages. (Carlo suggests but does not say explicitly that the “extorted telegram“ was in Russian.)

• Encouraging the idea that the publication in the West of Doctor Zhivago was in fact a plot of high-ranking Soviet officials, Carlo quotes from a letter from his father to a German scholar—“the whole affair was advised to me by the Soviet Union itself”, and from a 1961 letter from Olga to Khrushchev, “it was the Central Committee [of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union] that…put us [her and Pasternak] in touch with D’Angelo”. (Sergio D’Angelo was an Italian communist bookstore manager who had come to Moscow to work on an Italo-Soviet radio program. He made the first contact with Pasternak, recommended Zhivago to Feltrinelli and acted as the principal go-between. After the book was published, D’Angelo’s good offices or cunning apparently led Pasternak to write to Feltrinelli asking that D’Angelo be paid well from out of Pasternak’s royalties. After Pasternak’s death D’Angelo sued the publishing company, unsuccessfully, claiming that in fact Pasternak had granted him half of all the royalties.)

• In general Carlo Feltrinelli’s account supports the view that history large and small is made by the wealth, status and security seeking of self-involved individuals. And thus a reader of the biography may find herself decreasingly impressed by the once-much-ballyhooed international political significance of the publication of Zhivago and by the efforts of those involved to wrap themselves in grand political and artistic causes.

• Although Pasternak and Feltrinelli used carefully picked couriers to convey their messages to one another, according to Carlo the Soviet Committee on State Security (the KGB) and the Central Committee had news even of the very first exchanges. Carlo encourages the suspicion that the informer was either D’Angelo or, as Pasternak’s family apparently thought, Olga Ivinskaya. In this regard it should be noted that the person who suffered physically as a result of the affair was Olga (that is, she was imprisoned), and that if the goals were to get Pasternak’s novel widely distributed and acclaimed, to earn various people money and Pasternak honors as well, while keeping Pasternak himself out of prison—these goals were rather well achieved, and perhaps thanks in part to some cunning “informing”.

• Some insight into Pasternak’s role or reputation might be gained from a KGB memo that Carlo cites, in which it is said that from 1946 to 1948 Pasternak had been working through contacts in the British Embassy in Moscow and his sister in London to create “for himself an aura of the ‘great poet-martyr’ unable to adapt to the reality of Soviet life”.

• It should also be pointed out that by distributing Zhivago Pasternak does not seem to have been fouling his own trough to the extent that some members of the Soviet nomenklatura claimed at the time. While, as the KGB memo also suggests, Zhivago does romanticize individualism and estrangement from Soviet life, it—or particularly David Lean’s later film version—also romanticizes Russia and the Soviet Revolution. If Zhivago on a deeper level—perhaps for this romanticism above all—remains a “blow against the revolution”, it seems hardly “a ferocious libel against the USSR” (a claim of the then Soviet Foreign Minister). In the midst of the uproar Giangiacomo wrote a letter to Goslitizdat in which, while alluding to the well-known fact that he was a member of and chief source of funds for the Italian Communist Party, he proposed:

For the Western public, the fact that this is a voice of a man alien to all political activity is a guarantee of the sincerity of his discourse, thus making him worthy of trust. Our readers cannot fail to appreciate this magnificent panorama of events from the history of the Russian people, which transcends all ideological dogmatism, nor will they overlook its importance or the positive outlook deriving from it. The conviction will thus grow that the path taken by your people has been for them a progressive one, that the history of capitalism is coming to an end, and that a new era has begun.

• Giangiacomo has been accused of trying to heighten the sense of controversy and of the political opposition to the publication of Doctor Zhivago —either to drum up interest in the book in advance of its publication or because he loved publicity and scandal. (The prototypical rich European communist, Feltrinelli—heir to one of the greatest capitalist fortunes of Europe—enjoyed hobnobbing with Fidel Castro and also expensive yachts, estates and sports cars. He died by accident or was murdered while trying to plant a bomb in a electricity tower outside of Milan.) However, it may well be that the publication of Doctor Zhivago was so contested and confused because of the dramatic and uncertain transitions then going on: the coming to power of Khrushchev and the concomitant capital punishment of the chief of the secret police, Lavrenti Beria, and the 1956 Hungarian uprising and its repression by the Soviet Army. This was one of the most uncertain and rapidly evolving periods in Soviet history, and it led not only to basic changes in Soviet policies and in the most visible leaders of the government, but also to changes in the status, influence and policies of many members of the nomenklatura . It was specific members of this class—the leader of the Union of Soviet Writers most prominently—who publicly denounced the novel and who lobbied to get Pasternak to revise the original text and to try to stop the original from being published in the West, and it was specific other members of this class—a certain cultural specialist on the Central Committee in particular—who more privately lobbied and schemed in the original draft’s favor. Khrushchev later admitted that he had never read the book, and I suspect that Feltrinelli at best read a few pages and a paid reader’s synopsis. (Carlo describes his father arranging to pick up the manuscript at a Berlin nightclub, dancing with two blondes there, and sending the manuscript off to an Italian scholar for an evaluation.)

• It seems that while the Soviet Union existed Russian writers enjoyed no copyright protection in the West. However, there was an “international” (Western) convention that stipulated that the first publisher to publish a translation of a Russian book in the West—if he published his version no later than thirty days after the book’s publication in the Soviet Union—had exclusive rights to the international market for the book (including, apparently, for editions of the book in Russian). If nothing else this was the basis on which, after the book’s publication in the West, Giangiacomo’s lawyers traveled the globe bringing suits against any others who tried to publish the book without the Feltrinelli company’s permission.

William Eaton is an award-winning journalist, novelist, and writer of philosophical essays and dialogues. Surviving the Twenty-First Century , a collection of his essays from Montaigbakhtinian.com, was published last year by Serving House Books. One of Eaton’s dialogues, The Professor of Ignorance Condemns the Airplane , was staged in New York in 2014. He is editor of Zeteo , an online journal for generalists. (updated 4/2016)

William Eaton has also published in AGNI as William Eaton Warner.