Demyan Bedny (5 results)

Couverture rigide. Condition: Moyen. Propaganda work in Russian of the poet Demyan Bedny; in-12°; publisher's half cloth binding, tight, much stained, wear at spine sides; inside yellowed paper but good condition; 384 pages.

Softcover. Condition: Fair. No jacket. In Cyrillic. Wrappers worn and soiled, with some tears along edges. A tale in verse extolling the virtues of the Soviet Revolution.

Softcover. Condition: g+ to near fine. Second edition. Quarto. 53pp. Illustrated tan paper wrappers, with black and yellow lettering on the front cover. The book is unread, with pages uncut and un-opened. Issued by the state publishing house, this is the second edition of Russian revolutionary poet and author Demian Deny's (Yefim Alekseevich Pridvorov, 1883-1945) collection of satirical poetry. Images throughout by the author humorously depicts revolutionary and political topics with figures sometimes taking the form of fairytale animals. The b/w images here which often show dark, violent and adult topics, are juxtaposed with visual style that is often childlike and whimsical and/or symbolic. Most images are printed in woodblocks. Being a supporter of the Bolsheviks and the revolution, the topics of his ridicule and contempt here and in other works are the Tsarist regime, nobles, landowners, capitalists, the clergy and other members of the old order (hence the title), while supporting and allying with the perspective of the common people. This copy of the book has the ink stamp of Marcel Bekus (1888-1939), on the interior front cover. Bekus was a Russian anarchist revolutionary who took part in the Russian Revolution of 1905, and was subsequently imprisoned in Siberia. In the wake of the revolution in 1918, he was released from prison and moved to Paris. He later took part in the Spanish Civil war on the side of the Republicans, where he was killed in 1939. In 1985, years after his death, his library of publications and posters were uncovered by his grandson, and sold off. Text throughout in Russian. Wrappers with some age toning and light stains to the covers. Rubbing to spine. Natural age toning to pages throughout, but otherwise clean and unread. Wrappers in good+, interior in near fine condition overall. The first edition was issued in 1918, from a different publisher, with a different cover image and title page, but has a similar page count. Alternate transliteration of author's name: Demian Bednyi *Although the date on the covers of this edition is 1921, the title page states 1920.

Condition: Very good. Satirical Soviet picture book ridiculing famous political figures, one of the books critical of Russian history that led to Bedny's fall from grace under Stalin. Bedny was a well-placed Bolshevik writer whose poetry led to a friendship with Lenin, and later a turbulent relationship with Stalin. "His status and willingness to turn out rhymes in defense of the latest turn in party policy on short notice made him a rich man, a car owner, and the only writer to be allocated rooms in the Kremlin" (Andy McSmith) - and Stalin was known to borrow books from Bedny's enormous library. In the same year this book was published, Bedny was censured by a Central Committee resolution for another work. Stalin wrote Bedny that he was making Russia look bad by poking fun of its past. In 1932, after Bedny produced yet another work that Stalin disliked, Stalin evicted Bedny from his Kremlin apartment. A few years later, the famous agitprop writer was officially expelled from the party. This book was illustrated by the Kukryniksy, a collective group of satirical artists who would become famous for their political cartoons during World War II. Scarce, with no auction records. 7.75'' x 6''. Original side-stapled color printed wrappers. Illustrated by Koukryniksi in color with 9 caricatures of historical figures. [8] pages. A little unevenness in printing; rubbing along spine, some edgewear.

Leinen. Condition: Gut. 342, 391 S., 21x14 cm 2 Bände. Jeweils OLn., Goldprägung; ohne Umschläge. 1 Frontispiz. Ecken und Kapitale etwas bestoßen, kleine Delle in der Oberkante v. Band 1; Seiten wenig nachgedunkelt, ohne Eintragungen; gute Exemplare. ru Gewicht in Gramm: 850.