The Fruits of Enlightenment: A Comedy in Four Acts.

TOLSTOY, Lyof [Leo].

$1,500.00

Item Number: 135733

London: William Heinemann, 1891.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s satirical play. Octavo, original boards, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Tolstoy. Translated from the Russian by E. J. Dillon. Introduction by Arthur W. Penero. In fine condition. An exceptional example of this rare work.

Satirizing the persistence of unenlightened attitudes towards the peasants amongst the Russian landed aristocracy, Tolstoy's The Fruits of Enlightenment saw its first performance on December 30, 1889. In 1891 Constantin Stanislavski directed the first public performance in Moscow for his amateur Society of Art and Literature in its theatre on Tverskaya Street. The show was a success and in December 1891 it premiered in Moscow's Maly theatre. and has remained in Russian and Soviet theatre repertory ever since.