The Gentleman from San Francisco

one of 1000 copies

With the erratum slip which, according to Woolmer, was only only put into some of the 1000 copies printed. It notes that the first story was translated by Koteliansky and D.H. Lawrence, but 'owing to a mistake Mr. Lawrence's name has been omitted from the title page'; the remaining three stories were translated by Koteliansky and Leonard Woolf.

Ivan Bunin (1870–1953) was the first Russian writer awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. He fiercely opposed the Bolsheviks and fled Russia in 1920. After his historic win in 1933, the Soviet regime launched a campaign to pull his existing books from library shelves, and for decades, it became dangerous even to mention his name publicly. During this time, 'The Gentleman from San Francisco' could not be printed or distributed in the USSR solely because it was authored by a 'forbidden person'. Following Stalin's death in 1953 and the Khrushchev Thaw, Bunin was officially rehabilitated. Since 'The Gentleman from San Francisco' was viewed as a masterpiece that exposed the moral decay of wealthy Americans, it was quickly brought back into print and became one of the few Bunin works widely taught in Soviet schools.

First edition in English, first impression, one of 1000 copies; 8vo; erratum slip tipped in to title page (as issued), neat contemporary ownership signature to front pastedown, hint of foxing early and late; original green, blue, and yellow patterned paper boards, white paper labels to spine and front cover printed in black, 2pp. of publisher's ads at rear, spine label toned, corners a touch rubbed, otherwise a bright, clean copy.

Woolmer 18.