The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: an experiment in literary investigation

while you occupied yourself to your heart’s content studying the safe secrets of the atomic nucleus, researching the influence of Heidegger on Sartre, or collecting Picasso reproductions; while you rode off in your railroad sleeping compartment to vacation resorts, or finished building your country house near Moscow-the Black Marias rolled incessantly through the streets and the gaybisty-the State Security men-knocked at doors and rang doorbells.