I feel like this probably could be considered a primer for the much longer gulag archipelago. This story covers as the title says a fictional character (Ivan) for a day. Although the story is fiction, the experiences described in the book were definitely not. If you decide to read this book prepare to feel hungry and cold for approximately four and a half hours. The book is written from the perspective of Ivan Denisovich who is doing a ten-year sentence on fake charges. Provides a window into the mindset required (or at least according to Ivan) to survive in a Russian gulag. The story is well written easy to understand and a page turner.