Dead soul

Author: A Geng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Gogol's Dead Souls has long become a classic of world literature, with translations available in various countries. The Chinese translation caused a stir in the literary world upon its release, becoming instantly popular, demonstrating its immense charm. The original book featured three sets of illustrations, with A Geng's One Hundred Illustrations of Dead Souls being the most renowned. It was praised by critics for its realistic style, avoiding exaggeration. Unfortunately, it has been out of print for a long time and is now a rare collector's item, even among Russian collectors. Sanxian Shuwu acquired a copy last year and, rather than keeping it secret, sought assistance from the Cultural Life Publishing House to have it meticulously printed using a flat duplicating method, with excellent paper and ink. Additionally, twelve illustrations by the Russian artist Sokolov were appended at the end, compiling the complete visual representation of Dead Souls. Readers who follow the translation while flipping through this volume will vividly experience the middle-class society of Russia during Gogol's time. Introducing a renowned masterpiece along with such a wealth of illustrations is truly unprecedented in China. However, only 1,000 copies were printed, and it will not be reissued. The intention is not for profit, and the price has been kept as low as possible.
— Lu Xun Dead Souls is the masterpiece of the great Russian writer Gogol. Published in 1842, it has been illustrated by many artists over the years, with A Geng's One Hundred Illustrations of Dead Souls being the most highly regarded. As time passed, these illustrations became rare even in Russia. Therefore, when this collection resurfaced in Shanghai during the 1930s, the cultural circles were deeply moved. Mr. Lu Xun funded the reprinting of 1,000 copies under the name "Sanxian Shuwu." The book includes all 105 of A Geng's illustrations, along with 12 additional illustrations by the great Russian artist Sokolov, totaling 117 images. Nearly 70 years later, we are publishing this book once again, aiming to contribute to the dissemination and promotion of world-class culture. The illustrations have been carefully preserved in their original form, while the captions have been enriched, supplemented with corresponding English explanations. The text closely follows the illustrations while also maintaining the continuity of the original story, allowing readers who have not read Dead Souls to gain a comprehensive understanding of this literary masterpiece by flipping through the book. Thus, this volume is an invaluable reference and collectible for illustrators, illustration enthusiasts, literary researchers, and lovers of literature.