Hoffmann, E. T. A. Master Martin the Cooper and His Journeys (Master Martin-Bochar i ego podmasterya), 1937. In Russian.

Э. Т. А. Гофман. Мастер Мартин-Бочар и его подмастерья / Серия: Рассказы иностранных писателей; перевод с нем. А. Федорова; рис. А. Давыдовой.
Москва-Ленинград: Детиздат ЦК ВЛКСМ, 1937.
96 с. : ил. ; 20 см. Твердый переплет. Обычный формат.
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Hoffmann, E. T. A. Master Martin the Cooper and His Journeys (Master Martin-Bochar i ego podmasterya) / Series: Stories by Foreign Authors; trans. by A. Fedorov; ill. by A. Davydova.
Moscow-Leningrad: Detizdat TsK VLKSM, 1937.
96 pp. : ill. ; 20 cm. Hardcover. Standard format.

This 1937 edition of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s celebrated novella brings the artisanal atmosphere of 16th-century Nuremberg to the Soviet youth of the pre-war era. The text provides a deep dive into the internal logic of Hoffmann’s romantic realism, including the arrangement of the guild traditions, the pride of the master craftsman, and the poetic struggle between artistic inclination and vocational duty. Published by Detizdat (The Children's State Publishing House), this volume reflects a period when European romantic classics were carefully curated and translated for their focus on human labor, craftsmanship, and the triumph of genuine talent over superficial status. The translation by A. Fedorov preserves the archaic charm and rhythmic complexity of Hoffmann’s prose, making it an essential entry in the series of stories by foreign authors.
The physical identity of this book is defined by the evocative illustrations of A. Davydova, whose drawings capture the Gothic architecture and detailed interiors of the German cooper’s workshop. These visual elements serve as vital primary sources for studying Soviet book illustration of the late 1930s, showing a blend of historical accuracy and a romantic, slightly stylized graphic approach. The sturdy hardcover and standard format are typical of Detizdat’s high production standards, intended for lasting use in libraries and schools. For bibliophiles and collectors of Hoffmanniana, this 1937 imprint is a notable artifact of late-1930s Soviet book culture, representing the survival of the Romantic tradition within the rigid framework of Soviet pedagogical publishing.