[FIRST SHORT STORY BY TOLSTOY] Nabeg. Rasskaz volontiora // Sovremennik. Tom 39 [i.e. The Raid // The Contemporary. Vol. 39].
St. Petersburg: 1853. Item #207
Pp. 93-120. 24x15 cm. Modern binding, two last leaves (Contents) with restoration, one page with small loss of the text (not Tolstoy). Otherwise very good.
First publication of 'The Raid' and second publication of anything by Tolstoy. The story is based on Tolstoy’s own experience as an artillery cadet stationed in the Caucuses. Tolstoy was working on the story from May to December of 1852, and original title and idea were changing through that time. But once he finished it he asked Nekrasov
(‘The Contemporary’ editor) not to censor it or if not possible to return it. Tolstoy was right, The Raid was censored but Nekrasov still published it and it’s signed ‘L.T’.
Price: $3,800.00