Published by New York: The Viking Press, 1948, 1948
Seller: David Brass Rare Books, Inc., Calabasas, CA, U.S.A.
First Edition
Dust Jacket Condition: dj. First Edition. Steinbeck in the Soviet Union - Words and Images by Two Masters A Russian Journal - With Photographs by Robert Capa STEINBECK, John. A Russian Journal. With photographs by Robert Capa. New York: The Viking Press, 1948. First edition, first printing. Quarto (9 3/8 x 6 1/2 inches; 239 x 165 mm.). [iv], [1-2], 3-220 pp. Numerous photogravure illustrations throughout. Publisher's quarter yellow linen over light green buckram boards, front cover and spine lettered in blue, top edge stained blue. In the original color pictorial dust jacket. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. A remarkable collaboration between John Steinbeck and the legendary war photographer Robert Capa, A Russian Journal records their 1947 journey through the Soviet Union at the dawn of the Cold War. Determined to present an unfiltered view of everyday life, the two set out to observe rather than interpret, offering a rare and humanizing portrait of postwar Russia at a moment of deep geopolitical tension. Capa's photographs - direct, unsentimental, and often quietly powerful - perfectly complement Steinbeck's restrained and observant prose. Together, they create one of the most compelling documentary works of the period, notable for its refusal to conform to prevailing ideological narratives on either side. An unusually fine copy of a book seldom found in such pristine condition, particularly in its original dust jacket. A cornerstone collaboration, appealing equally to collectors of Steinbeck and of twentieth-century photography. Goldstone & Payne A29a.