Svoi Liudi—Sochtemsia. Originalʹnaia Komedīia v Chetyrekh Deistviiakh

Moscow: Gosudarstvennoe Izdatel'stvo Detskoi Literatury, 1956. Hardcover. First edition thus; 5 1/4 x 8 1/4; pp. [4], 5-96; cloth-backed pictorial boards; some rubbing to extreme edges of covers and corners; pages with light uniform age-toning; small signature to upper margin of first free page; few spots to back cover; illustrated in b&w;very good condition.Alexander Ostrovsky (1823-1886) was a Russian playwright, considered by many to be the most important representative of the Russian Realistic Period. He began writing his current play in 1846 under the title 'The Bankrupt' parts of which were published in an issue of 'Moskovsky Gorodskoi Listok.' The work was finished in 1849 but censorship pressure forced the title to be changed to the present 'It's a Family Affair - We'll Settle It Ourselves.' The play portraying the uncultured and self-important merchant class brought Ostrovsky instant fame in Moscow. It also caused his being dubbed a troublemaker, getting placed under the secret police's supervision, and his work being banned from production and performance on the Imperial Theater's stage. Nowadays, his dramas are some of the most beloved and frequently performed stage pieces in Russia.