Sunday, July 18, 2010

Berloiz 84.ber.0277 Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire

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Berlioz is the Chairman of the Board of MASSOLIT, the literary association roughly based on the Soviet Writers' Union. He is middle-aged, paunchy, a typical representative of the intelligent hack, a good follower and inculcator of the official line.

Berlioz shares his last name with Hector Berlioz, the French composer of the Symphonie Fantastique and the Damnation of Faust. Several names in the novel are connected to music.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

documents 552.doc.842 Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire

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The most important documents in Soviet life included the passport, the propiska, and any membership cards. An internal passport system was instituted in 1932 to restrict movement. Passports, which were issued only to urban residents (passports were not issued to all citizens until 1974), were required when applying for a job or housing, getting married or divorced. Another requirement was the propiska or residence permit. One had to be officially registered at one's place of residence with the passport section of the local militia. It was particularly hard to obtain a propiska in Moscow. To get the propiska one has to demonstrate that one has housing, and to be registered for housing, one has to have the local propiska. Residence permits were also required in order to get a job.