Our Notes & References

Fine example of a publication celebrated for its high quality, produced by a leading press of the Russian Empire. Limited to 500 copies, distributed only among subscribers, this one being No. 89. It includes the last part, part 5 of volume III, not present in Smirnov-Sokolskii’s library nor, strangely enough, in Muratova’s listing.

Friends of Gorbunov launched this lavish production to celebrate the author, and passed the profit from the sales onto his family. It became, thanks to the scholarly work put in it and the long list of works included, the best edition of Gorbunov’s writings as well as an important source on the Russian theatre of the 19th century. It was also an impressive production, in a large format with high quality paper and fine plates, which led the Russian writer Vladimir Lidin to claim it to be one of the most luxurious editions ever printed in Russia (“Druziia moi – Knigi”, 1962).

Gorbunov (1831-95) was a talented actor, playwright and novelist. He became well known for his short stories depicting episodes from folk life, which were published in such periodicals as Iskra, Sovremennik, Russkiy Vestnik among others. In all his literary works he skilfully combined a deep knowledge of the common person’s life and traditions, with an ability to see them from a humorous perspective.

Provenance

Avenir Nizoff (émigré, pianist, who lived in Edmonton, Canada, in the second half of the 20th century, and gathered a large library of various Russian works).

Bibliography

Muratova 5502; Smirnov-Sok. 2475; not in Kilgour, Gubar and Markov.