Bosev, Asen
The Siskin Sings. Illustrations by Marina Basmanova.
The Siskin Sings. Illustrations by Marina Basmanova.
Bosev, Asen [The Siskin Sings: Verses]. Poet Zyablik: Stikhi.
Translation from Bulgarian by Irina Tokmakova.
Illustrations by M. Basmanova.
Moskva,Izdatelstvo "Detskaya Literatura", 1975.
8vo, 15, [1] pp., ill.
In original pictorial wrappers.
Near very good condition, lightly rubbed to spine and edges, small tear to back cover.
First and only edition.
Assen Bossev (1913-1997), a prominent Bulgarian children's author, penned these verses that were translated by Irina Tokmakova (1929-2018), a talented children's book writer, poet, playwright, and wife of illustrator Lev Tokmakov. She was a member of the Hans Christian Andersen Award and served on the IBBY Executive Committee.
The book was illustrated by female graphic artist Marina (Marianna) Basmanova (born 1938). Her father, Pavel Basmanov, studied under K. Petrov-Vodkin, and her mother, Natalia, was a renowned book illustrator with whom she collaborated. Marina studied under V. Sterligov, an avant-garde painter and former student of Kazimir Malevich. She is also well-known as the partner of Joseph Brodsky, with whom she had a son, although they were never formally married. Brodsky dedicated some of the most powerful love poetry in Russian to her.
This book is from the children's collection of Inna Shmeleva (1929-2020), an artist who studied under Ely Bielutin, the founder of The New Reality artistic academy. In 1962, Shmeleva participated in the 30th anniversary of the Moscow Union of Artists at the Central Exhibition Hall (Manège), which was severely criticized by Nikita Khrushchev. This event marked the end of the period known as the Khrushchev Thaw.
We couldn't trace any copy of this edition in the USA or European libraries via OCLC.