Bookvica

[PROPAGANDA THEATER] Prodavtsy slavy. Komediia nravov v chetyrekh deistviiakh s prologom [i.e. Merchants of Glory. The Comedy of Manners in Four Acts with Prolog]

Pagnol, M., Nivoix, P.

Leningrad: MODPIK, 1926. Item #1851

112 pp. 16x12 cm. In original illustrated wrappers. Tears of spine with small fragment lost, some tears and soiling of covers, few minor fragments of covers restored, pale water stain on lower edge of back cover and pages, otherwise very good.

First and only Russian edition. One of 3000 copies. Rare.
Translation of the French play ‘Les Marchands de gloire’ (1925) was undertaken by poetess Evgeniia Russat (1885-1934). In the 1930s, productions of her translated plays, as well as her own plays were popular: about racism and a rebellion of black slaves, a comedy of manners, etc. Adaptation of this work was made by playwright Viacheslav Golichnikov.
In the play, a man uses the glory of his son who died in the war, the hero of Verdun, to fulfill his ambitions. The plot was rather useful for Soviet anti-imperialist propaganda.
Cover design was created by Nikolai Akimov (1901-1968), best known for his theatrical posters.
Born in Kharkiv, he moved with family to St Petersburg in 1910. He studied fine arts in the Evening Drawing Classes of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, and took lessons in Zaidenberg’s private studio, at the New Art Workshop under M. Dobuzhinsky, A. Yakovlev and V. Shukhaev. In 1918, having interrupted his studies, he went to work at the Proletkult poster workshop in Petrograd, but soon, “driven by hunger, cold, devastation, and need,” he left for Kharkiv. There Akimov participated in an art exhibition together with V. Yermylov and Z. Serebryakova, and taught drawing at the Higher Courses for Political Education Workers in Kharkiv. In 1922, he came back to Petrograd, entered VKHUTEMAS, became close to theatrical directors N. Evreinov, G. Kryzhitsky and N. Petrov. Further the artist collaborated with False Mirror Theater and the Academia publishing house. In 1927, Academia published a collection of articles dedicated to him and in the same year, his personal art show was held. Since the late 1920s, Akimov worked increasingly as a theater director. In this area he peaked in the Leningrad Theater of Satire that was forced to leave in the late 1940s, due to an anti-cosmopolitan campaign targeted at him. However, he stayed in Leningrad and continued theatrical direction.
According to a note on half-title, the right of theatrical production was given to the Bolshoi Drama Theater in Leningrad. The theatrical poster for the premier (December 1926) features the same design as this cover. Akimov created a lot for the production: the whole direction, an advertising poster and costume designs.

Not found in Worldcat.

Status: On Hold