Jacobs, W.W.
Alf's Dream. Translated by Yesenin’s wife.
Alf's Dream. Translated by Yesenin’s wife.
Jacobs, W.W. [Alf's Dream]. Son Al'fa.
Series Obschedostupnaia biblioteka, No 154.
Translation by N. Vol'pin.
Cover design by M. Kirnarskii.
Leningrad, Seiatel, 1925.
18mo, 48 pp.
In original wrappers.
In good condition, light wear to wrappers and spine, soiling and toning, spine with some creasing.
One of 15 000 copies published.
The first work by William Wymark Jacobs (1863-1943) to be published in Russian was a retold version of his best-known story, 'The Monkey’s Paw', in 1904. After this brief introduction to Russian readers, he reappeared in the 1920s and became quite popular in the newborn USSR. However, following this period of popularity, Jacobs was almost forgotten and has not been republished until now.
This book includes stories from Jacobs’ collection 'Short Cruises': 'Alf’s Dream', 'The Dreamer', and 'The Test'. It was part of a series of inexpensive books aimed at mass readers, which is why copies in good condition are now rare.
It is also noteworthy that the translation was done by Nadezhda Volpin (1900-1998), a female translator, poet, and memoirist. She was the wife of poet Sergei Yesenin and the mother of his son Alexander.
We couldn't trace any copy of this edition in the USA or European libraries via OCLC.