Solzhenitsyn, Alexander

Prussian Nights: A Poem

New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1977. Uncorrected Proof. Wrappers. "Prussian Nights was written, or rather composed in Solzhenitsyn's head, while he was serving his sentence of forced labor. A poem, a verse narrative, it is not autobiography in any strict sense, but it is based on Solzhenitsyn's own war experience." (from Translator's Note, pg. 33) A poem by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008), the towering Russian writer who was imprisoned in Stalin's Soviet Gulag & was among the most influential dissidents against the Soviet system. Based on his experiences as a soldier during World War II as his battery overwhelmed East Prussia during January 1945, just before he was arrested & imprisoned. Translated & with an afterword (quoted above) by Robert Conquest (1917-2015), the great British historian who wrote prolifically on USSR-related topics. Large, slender chapbook format in wrappers with glued binding, uncorrected proof as noted on front cover. The pages appear to be photocopied as common with proofs, & include facsimiles of hand-written page numbers as well as indeed several uncorrected errors, if our perusal of Conquest's Note is any indication. Noted as "First Edition, 1977" on copyright page. A grimly significant Solzhenitsyn collectible in a very rare form. In fine condition with moderate-to-significant fading, light rubbing, occasional spotting & sparse, faint creasing to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same esp. lower right corner of front cover; mild browning & spotting to edges of text block. Interior fine with only light browning at blank edges & margins of page leaves; tiny bumps & moderate creasing esp. to lower corners of some of same. Fine. [Item #4015]

Price: $50.00 save 20% $40.00