Гамлет. принц датский. трагедия Gamlet. Prints Datskii. Tragediia (Hamlet)

Moscow (Москва): Ogiz Gos. izd-vo khudozh (Государственное издательство художественной литературы), 1941. First edition thus. Softcover. g- to vg+. Octavo. 171, [1]pp. White paper wrappers, with illustrated woodcut border and text in black and brown. B/w woodcut illustrated frontispiece and title page. Smaller illustrated woodcut headpieces at the beginning of every act and an additional tailpiece at the very end of the final act. A total of 6 small b/w woodcut illustrations, plus the larger frontispiece, and front cover design all by prominent Soviet Russian artist and illustrator Vladimir Favorsky (1886-1964). The final four pages contain additional notes to provide the reader with more context, written by by Russian Shakespeare scholar Mikhail Morozov (1897-1952). Published by the "State Publishing House of Fiction."

Boris Pasternak was, in additional to his acclaimed personal literary work, renowned for his popular and compelling translation work for numerous world literary classics and stage plays into Russian, including works by Goethe, Schiller, Calderón de la Barca, and most notably William Shakespeare. This was the first book edition of Pasternak's translation of Hamlet. Pasternak did not believe in utilizing too literal a method in his translations, bur rather sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of the work's truth and emotion, which could go beyond the surface and connect with the audience on a deeper level, and took significant creative license with the work original text and dialogue.

Text throughout in Russian.

Wrappers with some chipping and rubbing to the edges of the wrappers. Covers with some stains, light foxing and creases. Book block tight. Interior clean, with light age toning to pages. Wrappers in good-, interior in very good+ condition overall. Bibliographic references: Sendich 1941.5 ; Tarasenkov p.296.