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[DNIEPER DAM] Voina s Dneprom [i.e. War with the Dnieper River]

Marshak, S.

Item #1213

Leningrad: Detgiz, 1935. [20] pp.: ill. 22,5x17 cm. In original illustrated wrappers. Slightly rubbed, small tears of the spine, stains occasionally, otherwise very good.

Third edition. Rare. Lithographic illustrations were created by Grigorii Sheviakov (1905-1982) who became the main artist of this poem. Premiered in 1931 with illustrations by G. Bibikov, ‘War with the Dnieper River’ changed its designer soon after that. The second edition came out in 1933 with colorful watercolor drawings by Leningrad VKhUTEIN graduate Grigorii Sheviakov. The front cover indicated a handwritten signature of the artist. In two years, Sheviakov showed up with the new design of Marshak’s poem that was produced in another technique and with other accents. The fourth edition was published with his illustrations as well. This principle to “reconstruct children’s book” every time in a different way was mainly caused by rapid changes of official art styles, censor’s demands and trends in the creation of literature for young communists. Thus, popular Marshak’s stories were reprinted with various illustrations throughout the Soviet period.
The agitprop poem was devoted to one of the giants of Soviet industrialization, Dnieper Hydroelectric Station. Established authority and formed the country, Soviet proletariat subordinated nature for the further development. Various editions glorified the dam, but Samuel Marshak (1887-1964) made a simple and catchy story for children.
Aiming to create poems similar to slogans of socialist competition in the 1930s, Marshak had published two poems for the youngest readers: ‘Competition Board’ and ‘War with the Dnieper River’. Both were printed in 1931 and depicted new phenomena charged with the revolutionary spirit of workers. The second one became more fortunate, relating to the construction of the triumphal project.
The verse was printed as narrow columns on rectos only while all rest space was filled by illustrations.

Worldcat shows copies in Princeton, Southern Mississippi Universities, Art Institute in Chicago and Richmond Public Library.

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