Evreinov, Nikolai Nikolaevich

Istoriia telesnykh nakazanii v Rossii [History of Corporal Punishments in Russia], vol. I (only published)

Saint Petersburg: V. K. Ilinchik, [1913]. Item #1013

First edition. [4], 214 pages, with in-text illustrations and separate illustration plates. Dimensions: 30 x 21 cm. Bound in original full cloth with colored embossing on the spine and covers, designed by Vestfalen (Kulakova) Antonina Khristianovna (1881-1942). A fair copy.

Released in 1913, just before World War I, this large-format book is printed on high-quality paper, it features meticulous design work by artist Vestfalen (Kulakova) Antonina Khristianovna (1881-1942). The book is adorned with numerous color and black-and-white illustrations, both within the text and on separate sheets.

Evreinov's work offers a comprehensive analysis of corporal punishment in Russia, spanning several centuries. It delves into the brutalities of Ivan the Terrible's Oprichnina, Peter the Great's repression of the Streltsy and aristocracy, the suppression of peasant and Cossack uprisings, and coercive criminal investigations. The true value of this book lies in its thorough examination of the customs and morals of a society that legitimized maiming, pain, and humiliation as means of enforcing law and order.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Evreinov (1879-1953), a founder and theorist of the Russian avant-garde, was a versatile director, playwright, writer, and artist. A graduate of the Imperial School of Jurisprudence in Saint Petersburg, Evreinov served in the Office of the Minister of Railways and the Ministry of Justice. His final student thesis was dedicated to the history of corporal punishments, a topic he later expanded and published as a mature writer. This meticulously researched book highlights the enduring impact of corporal punishment on Russian society, emphasizing its influence on the collective consciousness and psyche of the people.

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