Page 21 - Making Books
P. 21
23.
Nikolai Oleinnikov
Карась
The carp
Kineshma: Goppe, 1999
204 x 150 mm. 6 pages
Edition: 20, copy № 2/20
Nikolai Oleinikov (1898-1937), poet
and playwright, was engaged by
Samuil Marshak, as was his friend
Daniil Kharms, to write for the
children’s publishing house Detgiz
in Leningrad. It was their only way
to gain a living and to have their
work printed. In 1937 Oleinikov was
executed by the secret police as
his writings did not comply with the
ruling Soviet doctrine. His satirical
poem ‘The Carp’ tells the story of
a golden carp that freely swam in
the Neva river before being caught
and landing on a plate to be eaten.
For this edition of ‘The Carp’ Goppe
designed the cover and 6 colour
illustrations.
21
