Bookvica

[SINCLAIRE IN RUSSIAN] Korol’ Ugol’: Roman [i.e. The King Coal: A Novel]

Sinclaire, U.

Item #2026

Moscow: Izdvo VTSSPS, 1925. 211, [1] pp.: ill. 23.6x15.8 cm. In original illustrated publisher’s wrappers. Loss of the pieces of the spine, front wrapper loose, rear wrapper detached, worn edges, otherwise good.

First edition. 1 of 5,000 copies. Extremely scarce with no copies found in Worldcat.
One of the earliest Russian translations of Upton Sinclaire’s socialist novel King Coal. The original book, published in 1917, was first translated into Russian by Boris Yanovsky and Grigory Petnikov in 1923. Our edition came out two years later, translated by unknown contributors. The edition stands out from earlier releases with a bold modernist cover design, showing the weary figures of mine workers against the red backdrop. The book also features a headpiece and tailpiece attributed to Natalia Ushakova (1899-1990), a Soviet graphic
artist and children’s book illustrator. Some of her most famous works include Vladimir Mayakovsky’s Istoriya Vlasa, lentyaya i lobotryasa [i.e. The Story of Vlas, Lazy Loafer] (1927) and Sergey Zayaitsky’s Klyu i Klya [i.e. Klyu and Klya].
A committed socialist, Upton Sinclair held a prominent position as one of the foremost American novelists in the USSR. His works underwent multiple translations, and he was widely seen as a dear friend of the Soviet regime until the 1950s, when he became disillusioned with the Revolution.

No copies found in Worldcat.

Status: On Hold