London: Macmillan and Co., 1881. First English language edition. Translated by Lieut.-Col. Spalding. A Near Fine copy of this scarce and important work. Original green cloth with bright gilt on the spine and front panel; brown-coated end papers; octavo: xxiv, [4], 276. Slight foxing on the preliminary and terminal leaves, a previous owner's name on the title page, otherwise a lovely copy overall.

Generally considered the greatest Russian poet, Pushkin is credited with founding modern Russian literature. Eugene Onegin is Pushkin's only novel, written in iambic tetrameter. A keystone to the canon of Russian literature, it has been credited with providing numerous writers of the period with a prototype for their youthful protagonists. Focused on a selfish hero whose life ends in regret following his egotistical rebuffing of a virtuous young woman and his careless entry into a duel with his closest friend, Eugene Onegin also provided a plot for one of Tchaikovsky's celebrated lyric operas. Near Fine (Item #5612)