AKHMATOVA, Anna (Izbrannoye. Stikhhi. Sostavil K. Zelinski.). Selected Works. Poems. Edited by S. K. Zelinski. (Tashkent): 1943
Duodecimo, original printed wrappers. First edition of this pocket book of 115 pages published while the poet lived in Tashkent during the war. A presentation copy, inscribed by Akhmatova, To my dear Kozlovskis, in friendship, Akhmatova, 20 June 1943, Tashkent. A severely censored edition of Akhmatova’s poetry, edited by Korney Zelinski and published with the assistance of Alexey Tolstoy; Selected Works sold out immediately upon publication. Akhmatova called it small, incomplete and strangely put together, but was gratified that it put her poems back in the hands of appreciative readers. In an unpublished review, Pasternak referred to Selected Works as a new and noble occasion for the resurrection of a famous woman writer, her role as an innovator of gigantic proportions. Wrappers slightly soiled, otherwise a very good copy.
$US5000
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