In 1971, Solzhenitsyn was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, but he decided not to go to the award ceremony in Stockholm for fear of not being allowed back into the Soviet Union. While the international fame of having won the Nobel Prize probably saved him from being arrested and imprisoned again, his continued refusal to compromise with the political system, and his steady criticism of his own and some fellow dissidents' treatment, finally led to his forcible deportation to West Germany on February 13, 1974.
Since this time, Solzhenitsyn has made his home in the West, changing his permanent domicile frequently. He continues to criticize the Soviet regime, but he is convinced that any change in Russia will come from within, gradually brought about by the triumph of the inherent goodness of the Russian people, rather than by a violent overthrow of the government. The author has been increasingly critical of the West for not taking a stronger political, moral, and military stance against Soviet international aggression. In addition, he is a vociferous opponent of "detente," since he believes that it will weaken the Russian people's resolve to resist and subvert the Communist regime.
