IAS Lecture. Publication of Doctor Zhivago and the Pasternak Case
Guest Lecturer: Professor Paolo Mancosu, USA
What can the turbulent publishing journey of Doctor Zhivago reveal about politics, literature, and cultural power in the mid-20th century?
The Institute of Advanced Studies invites you to the lecture by Professor Paolo Mancosu from the Department of Philosophy of the University of California.
Professor Mancosu is visiting Tel Aviv University as part of the Lowy Distinguished Guest Professors series 2025–2026.
Professor Mancosu will present The Publication History of Doctor Zhivago and the Pasternak Case: A Retrospective. He will focus on his key contributions to understanding the publication and reception of Doctor Zhivago and the historical context of the Pasternak case (Mancosu 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2024).
Alongside the main results—the “narrative”—he will reflect on the research process itself—the “metanarrative”—highlighting the interplay between historical documents, literary history, and scholarly inquiry.
Bibliography:
- Mancosu, P. 2013, Inside the Zhivago Storm, Feltrinelli, Milan
- Mancosu, P. 2015, Smugglers, Rebels, Pirates, Hoover Press, Stanford
- Mancosu, P. 2016, Zhivago's Secret Journey, Hoover Press, Stanford
- Mancosu, P. 2019, Moscow Has Ears Everywhere, Hoover Press, Stanford
- Mancosu, P. 2024, In the KGB's Crosshairs. New Soviet Documents on the Pasternak and Ivinskaya Cases, WriteUP, Rome
When: December 11, 2025 | 18:00
Where: Gilman Building, Room 449
Light refreshments will be served before the lecture.
The lecture will be conducted in English and is open to the public.
View the invitation flyer
About the Lecturer
Paolo Mancosu is the Willis S. and Marion Slusser Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley. He is one of the leading contemporary philosophers working on the history and philosophy of mathematics and logic. His research combines deep technical expertise in logic with a broad historical perspective on the evolution of mathematical and philosophical ideas.
His current work focuses on neologicism, the philosophy of mathematical practice, and the history of mathematical infinity. Prof. Mancosu has received numerous distinctions, including the Shoenfield Prize, the Chaire d’excellence internationale Blaise Pascal, the Prix Jean Cavaillès, the Humboldt Research Award, and the Guggenheim Fellowship.
The Institute of Advanced Studies at Tel Aviv University promotes academic excellence by hosting leading scholars from diverse fields worldwide.
