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[SURREALISM IN CHILDREN'S BOOK] Taguna. Khortumi makvs, magram svilo ara var [i.e. I have a trunk, but I am not an elephant]

Item #2206

Tbilisi: akhelgamis sabavshvo da akhalganis sekt’ori, 1933. 32 p. 24x16,5 cm.

Spine is restored (supplied), otherwise in good condition. First and only edition. Illustrated throughout by Irina Grabovskaya, Tbilisi-based artist, known for her works in book design.

An absurdist children’s story, formed as a riddle – a creature lives by the swamp, and has a trunk – a child had to guess, what creature is that – the process of its birth is described and illustrated, as well as first steps – turns out the hero of the story is a mosquito (although a few surreal variants are shown by the illustrator, including the pigeon with a trunk, flying elephant and another elephant-like creature, that is hard to describe). In the second part of the book a mosquito starts its life and the story takes a grim turn: through its bites the malaria spreads in the village, a woman mourns a death of a closed one in the cemetery, the child is getting sick and being looked after by a nurse. Although the story turns out to be a didactic tale, the book never loses its absurdist vibe – one can see the mosquito lecturing a group of children on p.28, as well as being put on trial a couple of pages later. The verdict ‘guilty’ by the fairest court in the world (Soviet comradery court) has ruled: ‘guilty’.

Author’s real name Shalva Sharashidze (1886-1934) was a Georgian satirist and writer. Educated in Odesa, from 1905, he actively participated in the illegal work and speeches of the Bolshevik faction of the Tbilisi public organization. In November of the same year, a secret congress of the Bolsheviks of the Caucasus was held in his house with the participation of Stalin. In the first half of 1906, he moved to Baku and continued his illegal work there. From 1911, he was in Kutaisi and published humorous poems and feuilletons in Tbilisi publications. In 1924 his play ‘Avgaroz’ was staged in Rustaveli theatre. This is his only childrens’ book publication.

Price: $950.00

Status: On Hold