Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the renowned Russian writer and political activist, passed away at age 89 on August 3, 2008. A Nobel laureate and towering figure in Soviet cultural life, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was known for his powerful critiques of Soviet totalitarianism and his unwavering advocacy for freedom and human dignity. A veteran of World War II and recipient of the Order of the Red Star, Solzhenitsyn first gained fame upon the publication of his 1961 novel "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" about a gulag prisoner. His 1966 collection of short stories, "Cancer Ward", cemented his place as one of Russia’s most influential writers and thinkers. In 1970 he was sentenced to internal exile because of his famed anti-Soviet activities, but later in life returned to Russia before settling in Moscow in 1994. Solzhenitsyn was bestowed with numerous awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1970, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006, and the Order of St. Andrew in 1992. He spent much of his time focused on human rights activism. He reviewed the 1996 Russian constitution and worked diligently to push for liberal political reforms. His books and works remain an influential part of Russia's cultural history. He is survived by his second wife, Natalia Svetlova, and his four sons.