ČAPEK, Karel; KALLINIKOV, Joseph (translator).
R.U.R. Rossum's Universal Robots.
R.U.R. Rossum's Universal Robots.
Stock Code 124507
Praga [Prague], Plamya, 1924.
a cornerstone of dystopian literature
One of the first two Russian editions of the play that introduced the word 'robot' to the world. A cornerstone of dystopian literature.In 1924, two Russian translations of R.U.R. appeared in Prague and Leningrad. Joseph Kallinikov's Prague edition stayed faithful to the original Czech text, retaining the title and neologism 'robot'. By contrast, Isai Mandelstam and Yevgeny Gerken's Leningrad edition, based on a German translation, changed the title to V.U.R. and replaced 'robot' with rabotar' - a term adapted to to Russian linguistic norms but which ultimately failed to gain acceptance. This variety of translations and terminology delayed the integration of 'robot' into the Russian language.
Performances of RU.R. in Russia began in 1924, receiving widespread acclaim. Maxim Gorky praised it enthusiastically, while Anatoly Lunacharsky admired its sharp satirical and tragicomic elements. While Čapek's later texts like War with the Newts (1936) and The White Disease (1937) were celebrated in the Soviet Union for their antifascist themes, R.U.R. only narrowly avoided censorship by being framed as a critique of Capitalism.
First Russian edition; 8vo; unmarked internally; original grey wrappers printed in blue, modernist cover design inspired by those of Josef Čapek, blue lettering to spine and rear wrapper, untrimmed, a few small nicks to edges, spine a little worn with tiny losses to tips; very good.
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