Bookvica

[ADOLF STRAKHOV] Krutoe pereput’e. Povesti [i.e. A Fateful Crossroads. Stories]

Zhurba, P.

Item #2794

Kharkiv: Proletarii, 1927. 184 pp. 18x13 cm. In late cardboards with original illustrated wrappers mounted above. Slightly rubbed and bumped, few minor stains, otherwise very good and clean pages.

Inscribed by the author on the half-title: “To my dear wife Katya, in memory of the steep and winding paths we have walked together, and of the bright roads ahead — from your devoted Pav. Zhurba. March 30, 1927”.

First and only edition. One of 5000 copies.

The collection includes 3 stories by writer and journalist Pavel Zhurba (born Panteleimon Skrypnykov; 1895–1976). He headed the editorial office of the journal “Perelom” [Breakthrough; 1930–1931], worked at the magazine “Vokrug Sveta” [Around the World; 1936–1937], and during the war, served on the newspaper “Za Sovetskuyu Rodinu” [For the Soviet Motherland].

The wrapper design was created by prominent Ukrainian designer Adolf Strakhov (Braslavsky; 1896-1979). In the early 1920s, he mainly produced sharp caricatures and satirical drawings. Then he became known as one of the most prominent Ukrainian book and poster designers, developing socialist realism. Strakhov designed more than 250 books for the State publishing house of Ukraine. Among them were literary discussions, collections and crucial monographs. Most books he designed in the 1920s gained fame at that time but were banned in the 1930s, due to repression of many Ukrainian public figures, writers and artists. Later contributors became known as representatives of the Executed Renaissance.

The last page features a publisher’s ad listing some other books with their pages and prices.

Worldcat shows the only copy at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Price: $1,500.00

Status: On Hold