Dudintsev, Vladimir

[FIRST EDITION] Ne khlebom edinym [Not by Bread Alone]

Munich: TSOPE, 1957. Item #1012

296 pages. 24×17 cm. Text in Russian. A good copy with light wear to the cover and occasional foxing throughout.

Not by Bread Alone (Russian: Не хлебом единым) is a 1956 novel by Vladimir Dudintsev, serialized in Novy Mir and recognized as a literary symbol of the Khrushchev Thaw. The story centers on an engineer clashing with bureaucratic obstacles to implement his invention, resonating with Soviet readers who saw it as a critique of the system. Initially, the novel received cautious praise from Soviet officials but later faced severe criticism, including from Nikita Khrushchev, who condemned it as misleading. Despite official disapproval, the public continued to support Dudintsev's work, and it became a bestseller, with copies selling at a premium on the black market. The novel's impact extended beyond the Soviet Union. Published in English in 1957, it was praised by The New York Times for its revealing portrayal of Soviet life. The book remains a significant cultural artifact, illustrating the era's political and social tensions.

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