pasternak was awarded the nobel prize in literature the following year, an event which humiliated and enraged the communist party of the soviet union. in the midst of a massive campaign against him by the cpsu and the union of soviet writers, pasternak reluctantly agreed to decline the prize. in his letter to the nobel committee, pasternak stated the reaction of the soviet state was the only reason for his decision. he is still listed as the winner for that year.