Diary of a Madman: Fragments of a Farcical Story
St. Petersburg: (Nikodim), 2020. Illustrations by Dmitry Sayenko. Limited edition. Hardcover. Fine. Item #21588 .
Artist book. Folio. 50pp. Half leather in a tan color, gilt spine title. The paper over boards has been etched by the artist, with an onlay engraving of Gogol in a recess and his signature reproduced in gilt. Illustrated throughout with linocuts by Sayenko in various colors. Translated from the Russian by James J. Owens for this edition.
One of 19 copies; this is number 5. The illustrations have been taken directly from the blocks and printed on paper handmade by the artist. The binding is also by the artist. A fine copy in matching slipcase. Signed by both the artist and the translator.
Fragments of Gogol's tale are here presented to tell the story of a clerk slowly going mad to support Sayenko's artistry. We read about the fellow slowly losing his mind until he thinks he is King Ferdinand of Spain, and that the asylum where he lands is the Spanish court. The English translation by Owens is accompanied by Gogol's original Russin is Dmitry's usual artistic way, printed on inserts bound into the text.
Price: $2,500.00