Adyge. Poema.

The poem was written by Aleksei (Oleksa) Kirii (1889–1954), a Ukrainian poet, writer, and translator who lived in Kuban, a region in the North Caucasus. Kirii initially wrote in Ukrainian, aligning with the Bolshevik policy of Ukrainisation in the region following the October Revolution. From the 1920s, while serving as a senior secretary of the regional court, he developed an interest in the history and culture of the Circassian (Adyghe) people. Kirii dedicated considerable effort to collecting Adyghe folklore, collaborating with Ibragim Tsei, a writer and one of the founders of Adyghe literature. In 1932, as de-Ukrainisation began in Kuban, Kirii switched to writing in Russian.

His epic poem, 'Adyge', delves into the lives of several generations of the Adyghe people, tracing their history from ancient times to the period of collectivisation. The poem is based on stories from Adyghe storytellers, and firsthand accounts of historical events from the 19th and 20th centuries. The poem notably mentions Kizbech Tughuzhuqo, a Circassian military leader who participated in the Caucasian war against the Russian Empire. The first two parts of this work were published in 1941, just before the USSR entered World War II, with the complete version published in 1948.

Scarce: no copies found on WorldCat.

First edition, 12mo (19.5 x 15 cm); vignettes, minor spotting to title-page and endpaper; original pictorial paper cover boards and blue cloth spine, corners bumped, minor wear to spine, a very good copy, 140pp.