Mitina Liubov'

First book appearance of Bunin novel


Octavo 15.3x11.5 cm., wrappers, 96pp. The first complete appearance of Bunin's renowned work, which first appeared in two installments in the émigré journal Sovremenny zapiski, Paris, in 1924. 7000 copies of the present work were released in the first appearance in book form from Leningrad. Although the author had self-exiled permanently from 1916 this edition under the Soviets came with his blessing. Ivan Bunin (1870-1953) is a giant in Russian literature, the last in the pageant of classical authors from the 19th century forward to bear the title. He was the first Russian writer to receive a Nobel prize, which came in 1933 citing his overall contribution of masterpieces in literature over 50 years. This short novel (Mitya's Love) by itself in its creation of characters spawned many other short works subsequently, all of which figure importantly in the author's oeuvre. It has been widely translated and published in many editions. This first edition, however, is quite scarce. Worldcat locates four holdings of it in North America (NYPL, Chicago PL,Harvard, UMI). This copy very good with light spine wear.