Vintage 1948 Soviet Book: Alexander Ostrovsky Selected Works | Tsar to Soviet Books

Classic 1948 Soviet Folio Edition: "Selected Works" by Alexander Ostrovsky

Product Overview For scholars of European theatrical history, collectors of Russian drama, and bibliophiles of post-war Soviet academic printing, this 1948 original Soviet hardcover volume is a foundational collection. Published in Moscow and Leningrad by OGIZ – State Publishing House of Fiction (ОГИЗ – Государственное издательство художественной литературы), Selected Works (Избранные сочинения) compiles the definitive theatrical repertoire of Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky.

Bound in an embossed dusty-rose cloth hardcover with a brown cloth spine, classical framing borders, and gilt title lettering, this 650+ page folio edition was prepared with an extensive introductory study and critical apparatus by theatre scholar G. I. Vladykin.

The Storm, Without a Dowry, The Forest & Archival Maly Theatre Plates Ostrovsky’s works defined Russian social realism on the stage:

• Masterpiece Social Dramas (Драматические произведения): Unabridged stage texts for The Storm («Гроза»), Without a Dowry («Бесприданница»), and Guilty Without Fault («Без вины виноватые»).

• Merchant & Civil Service Satires: Groundbreaking comedic plays exposing social climbing and provincial bureaucracy, including A Lucrative Position («Доходное место»), Poverty is No Vice («Бедность не порок»), It's a Family Affair-We'll Settle It Ourselves («Свои люди — сочтемся»), Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man («На всякого мудреца довольно простоты»), and The Forest («Лес»).

• Mythological & Fairy Tale Drama: The lyrical pagan drama The Snow Maiden («Снегурочка»), along with Wolves and Sheep («Волки и овцы») and Talents and Admirers.

• Archival Theatre Photography: Illustrated with glossy monochrome plates documenting historical performances at the Moscow Maly Theatre, featuring legendary figures of the Russian stage such as O. O. Sadovskaya and M. P. Sadovsky.

• Authentic 1948 Provenance: Preserves a vintage personal dedication on the front endpaper from a grandmother to her grandson Gurik dated October 24, 1948.

Complete Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Избранные сочинения (Selected Works)

• Author: Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky (А. Н. Островский)

• Editor & Introductory Article: G. I. Vladykin (Г. И. Владыкин)

• Publisher: OGIZ – Goslitizdat (ОГИЗ – Гослитиздат, Москва–Ленинград)

• Publication Date: 1948 (Moscow–Leningrad, USSR)

• Language: Russian

• Binding: Original publisher's cloth-backed embossed hardcover

• Page Count: 650+ pages with tipped-in theatrical photography plates and explanatory notes

• Classification: Russian Classical Drama / 19th-Century Theatre / Soviet Post-War Fine Editions

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