![DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Besy. [The Devils, sometimes The Possessed or Demons]. St Petersburg: for the author by the K. Zamyslovsky Press, 1873.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_18441_0028_000(dostoevsky_fyodor_besy_the_devils_sometimes_the_possessed_or_demons_st073549).jpg?w=1)
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DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Besy. [The Devils, sometimes The Possessed or Demons]. St Petersburg: for the author by the K. Zamyslovsky Press, 1873.
A remarkable survival: an uncut copy in the original wrappers of the first edition of one of Dostoevsky's great novels. This was the first of his books published by Dostoevsky himself, for which he acquired the best-quality paper produced in St Petersburg. Besy captures 'the full grandeur of Dostoevsky's extraordinary endeavor, which is nothing less than to write a symbolic history of the moral-spiritual travails of the Russian spirit' (Frank, pp.430-434). It is his most overtly political work, and a ruthless exposition of contemporary revolutionary movements. The serialization of this work, in Katkov's periodical The Russian Messenger, broke down when Katkov refused to print 'Stavrogin's Confession', an episode which he found particularly shocking. Kilgour 281.
3 parts in 3 volumes, octavo (223 x 153mm). Uncut, with deckle edges, with all the half-titles and the leaf of quotations (occasional light spotting, occasional mild marginal waterstaining). Original publisher’s printed wrappers (spines and corners and some fore-edges repaired, clean tear to upper wrapper of vol. 1 repaired). Provenance: unidentified faded stamp on rear wrapper.
A remarkable survival: an uncut copy in the original wrappers of the first edition of one of Dostoevsky's great novels. This was the first of his books published by Dostoevsky himself, for which he acquired the best-quality paper produced in St Petersburg. Besy captures 'the full grandeur of Dostoevsky's extraordinary endeavor, which is nothing less than to write a symbolic history of the moral-spiritual travails of the Russian spirit' (Frank, pp.430-434). It is his most overtly political work, and a ruthless exposition of contemporary revolutionary movements. The serialization of this work, in Katkov's periodical The Russian Messenger, broke down when Katkov refused to print 'Stavrogin's Confession', an episode which he found particularly shocking. Kilgour 281.
3 parts in 3 volumes, octavo (223 x 153mm). Uncut, with deckle edges, with all the half-titles and the leaf of quotations (occasional light spotting, occasional mild marginal waterstaining). Original publisher’s printed wrappers (spines and corners and some fore-edges repaired, clean tear to upper wrapper of vol. 1 repaired). Provenance: unidentified faded stamp on rear wrapper.
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