Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr

Sobranie sochinenii [Collected Works]. Vols. 1-16

Vermont–Paris: YMCA-Press, 1978-1986. Item #1391

Book measures: 17 × 12 cm. In original uniform soft cloth bindings, gilt-stamped spine and front board. Very Good. Bindings firm, with minor rubbing and fading to spine tips; pages lightly toned with age, with some edge darkening as usual for this paper stock.

A highly significant and scarce set of the first lifetime edition of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s collected works, comprising volumes 1 through 16 (of a projected 20), issued by YMCA-Press in Paris and Vermont between 1978 and 1986. The volumes are uniformly bound in the publisher’s soft brown cloth with gilt titling to the spine and monogram “AС” on the front board. This edition was prepared personally by Solzhenitsyn, and is of particular scholarly value for restoring pre-censorship versions of the texts, newly verified and corrected by the author himself. Printed on extremely thin cigarette or Bible paper, this set is lightweight yet textually complete—a distinctive production trait associated with émigré print culture.

The collection includes the major novels V kruge pervom [The First Circle], Rakovyi korpus [Cancer Ward], and the epic cycle Krasnoe koleso [The Red Wheel], along with novellas, stories, dramatic works, and screenplays. Several works appear in print here for the first time.

Price: $1,000.00