Welcome to Russian History Retold.

Episode 195, Boris Boris Pasternak.

Boris Leonidovich Pasternak was born on February 10th, 1890 in Moscow to an affluent Jewish family.

His father Leonid Pastronach was a post-impressionist painter and professor at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture,

in Architecture.

Boris's mother, Rosalia Kaufman, was a well-known pianist. They both guided him around the world of famous writers,

musicians, and artists. A close family friend, the musical composer, Alexander Scriabin, had a significant influence on the young

Pasternak as well. As a boy he was baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church

but shortly after that he became what is known as a Tolstoyan

Christian. His father had become the illustrator for many of Tolstoy's books. Others who would pass through the Pasternak home included Sergei Rachmaninoff, Lev

Shestoff, and Rainier Maria Rilke. Imagine having such a cultural and intellectual beginning to life.

At first, Boris thought that he would go into music, no doubt influenced by Scriab and

Rahmaninoff.

A few years into his education,

he decided that musical life was not to be.

So he decided to head off to the University of Marburg, Germany to study philosophy.

After four months there and a trip to Italy, he returned to Russia and decided to dedicate himself

to literature.

We are all much richer and luckier

that he made that decision.

Before the Russian Revolution, Pasternak entered the Holy Dormition Pochaiva Lavra and

roomed with Peter Mingshevich, who would become part of the character in Dr. Zavago

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