Evgeny Onegin - A. S. Pushkin, Oliver Elton (translator), M.V. Dobujinsky (illustrator), Desmond MacCarthy (foreword) 1937 - The Pushkin Press, London - First Oliver Elton Edition, number 212 of 775 copies ‘Pushkin is the greatest name in Russian literature. He is to Russians what Dante is to Italians, Goethe to Germans, Shakespeare to us.’

The scarce first edition to be translated by Oxford scholar Oliver Elton [1861-1945], and the first to feature the Russian artist Dobujinsky’s (Dobuzhinsky 1875-1967)) wonderfully evocative illustrations. Number 212 of 775 copies.

With a foreword by Sir Desmond MacCarthy [1877-1952], notes and index.

‘Bored and aloof, tired of St Petersburg high society, Yevgeny Onegin goes to live on the country estate he has just inherited from his uncle. There he encounters Tatyana, who becomes hopelessly infatuated with him. From this story, first published in 1833, Pushkin creates his sublime masterpiece of love, death, duelling, rivalry, identity and the search for happiness; the lodestar for all of Russian literature.

By turns playful, philosophical, sardonic and mournful, brimming with rich descriptions of Russian life, from drinking and dancing to crisp wintry landscapes, Yevgeny Onegin is a work of thrilling energy’ [
Pushkin Press]
  Alexander Pushkin was born in 1799. He published his first poem when he was fifteen, and in 1820 his first long poem-Ruslan and Lyudmila-made him famous. His work, including the novel-in-verse Yevgeny Onegin, the poem The Bronze Horseman, the play Boris Godunov and the short story ‘The Queen of Spades’, has secured his place as one of the greatest writers, in any language, ever to have lived. He died aged just 37, having been wounded in a duel-Pushkin’s 29th-by his brother-in-law.

Reference: The Pushkin Press.
Folio (binding size 29.6x20.2cm), pp. [2] xxxiii [1] 255 [1].
  Bound in tan morocco backed, cream paper covered boards patterned in brown, spine lettered in gilt, upper board with inlaid paper title label lettered in brown, top edge gilt others untrimmed.   Condition: Fine with the exception of some light foxing to endpaper and minor wear to outer corners.   Ref: 110900   Price: HK$ 5,500