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[Fake Wilde] Tsar’ zhizni (The King of Life).

[Fake Wilde] Tsar’ zhizni (The King of Life).

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[Fake Wilde] Tsar’ zhizni (The King of Life).

by Wilde O. (Bloksem J.)

  • Used
  • Paperback
  • first
Condition
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Seller
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Chamesson, France
Item Price
£969.12
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About This Item

A scandalous story of love between an abbot and a 14-year-old novice, which ends in a collective suicide on the altar. In this edition (the only Russian one), it is attributed to Oscar Wilde. It was actually written by Wilde's "friend" John Fr. Bloksem (1873-1928) and published in the only issue of the journal "Chameleon" published by him (1894). Written under the influence of Wilde and with his approval, the story ("The Priest and the Acolyte") was discussed in the same year at his trial. An anonymous translator attributed this text to Wilde in the preface and gave the whole book as a title the nickname of Wilde himself — "The King of Life". The book was banned in England, Russia, and even in Soviet times, in the 1940s and 50s (see Glavlit lists in: Blum A. Index Librorum Prohibitorum of Foreign Writers), and both Glavlit, Blum, and the catalogers of the RSL and RNB mistakenly indicate Wilde as the author of this book. Printed in the ephemeral publishing house "Icarus", in the font "antique".

A literary curiosity, a rarity. WorldCat and KVK do not find any copies of the book outside of Russia.

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Details

Seller
M.B.Rare Books FR (FR)
Seller's Inventory #
F-5
Title
[Fake Wilde] Tsar’ zhizni (The King of Life).
Author
Wilde O. (Bloksem J.)
Book Condition
Used
Quantity Available
1
Binding
Paperback
Publisher
Icarus
Place of Publication
Moscow
Date Published
1908
Pages
54 p.
Weight
0.00 lbs

Terms of Sale

M.B.Rare Books

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About the Seller

M.B.Rare Books

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2021
Chamesson

About M.B.Rare Books

My goal is to represent the contribution of Russian culture to world civilization. I specialize in rare books related to Russia and USSR. The main subjects are: all aspects of communication between Western and Russian cultures, Russian traveler, Russian Futurism, Avant-Garde and Constructivism, Russian socialism, Russian science, Russian theater, Ukraine, Belorussia, Caucasus, Asia, Siberia, music, arts, architecture, philosophy. I am in France. All meeting by appointment, connection by mail and phone.

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