Tumanina, N. M. P. Mussorgsky: Life and Work (M. P. Musorgskiy: Zhizn i tvorchestvo), 1939. In Russian.

Туманина Н.
М. П. Мусоргский. Жизнь и творчество. / К столетию со дня рождения 1839—1939.
Москва : Государственное музыкальное издательство (Музгиз), 1939.
238 с. : ил., портр., нот. ил. ; Обычный формат. Твердый издательский переплет. Тираж 10 000 экз.
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Tumanina, Nadezhda.
M. P. Mussorgsky: Life and Work. / On the centenary of his birth, 1839–1939.
Moscow : State Music Publishing House (Muzgiz), 1939.
238 pp. : ill., ports., music samples ; Regular format. Hardcover. Edition of 10,000 copies. In Russian.

This 1939 monograph is a significant musicological contribution by Nadezhda Tumanina, released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881), one of Russia's most innovative and influential composers. Published during a period of intense cultural consolidation in the Soviet Union, the text provides a deep dive into the internal logic of Mussorgsky's "musical realism," including the arrangement of his groundbreaking operas Boris Godunov and Khovanshchina, as well as his vocal cycles. Tumanina traces the composer's life from his upbringing in the Pskov region to his central role in "The Mighty Handful" (The Five), emphasizing his commitment to capturing the authentic "truth" of the Russian folk spirit and speech patterns in melody.
The volume is richly illustrated with historical portraits, archival photographs, and numerous musical examples (scores) that analyze Mussorgsky’s unconventional harmonic language. Across its 238 pages, Tumanina explores the ideological and social undercurrents of his work, reflecting the pre-war Soviet academic approach to classical heritage. Published by the State Music Publishing House (Muzgiz) in a durable 1930s-style hardcover, the book had a substantial print run of 10,000 copies, yet well-preserved examples remain prized by collectors of musical literature. For bibliophiles, music historians, and admirers of the Russian National School, this 1939 Moscow imprint is a vital primary source, documenting the centennial celebration of a composer who redefined the boundaries of 19th-century opera and song.