Quatrains: From Tajik Folk Lyrics (Chetverostishya: Iz tadzhikskoy narodnoy liriki), 1957. In Russian.

Четверостишья : Из таджикской народной лирики. / Пер. с тадж. Н. Гребнева; Художник В. Горбунов.
Сталинабад : Таджикгосиздат, 1957.
130 с. : ил. Твердый издательский переплет, уменьшенный формат (17 см). Тираж 10 000 экз.
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Quatrains : From Tajik Folk Lyrics. / Translated from Tajik by N. Grebnev; Illustrator V. Gorbunov.
Stalinabad: Tajikgosizdat, 1957.
130 pp. : ill. Hardcover, pocket format (17 cm). Print run: 10,000 copies. In Russian.

This 1957 collection is a beautiful example of Soviet-era translation and regional book production, capturing the soul of Tajik oral tradition. Published in Stalinabad (the name of Dushanbe from 1929 to 1961), the book features "Rubaiyat" and other four-line folk verses translated by the master of Oriental poetic translation, Naum Grebnev. Grebnev, famous for his ability to preserve the rhythmic cadence and emotional depth of Persian and Tajik poetry in Russian, presents here a curated selection of folk lyrics that range from philosophical meditations on fate to vibrant expressions of love and earthly joy.
The edition is notably enhanced by the illustrations of V. Gorbunov, whose graphic work draws inspiration from traditional Central Asian miniatures and folk art. The small, "pocket" format reflects the intimate nature of the lyrics, intended to be carried and read as a companion. In this volume, the translation provides a deep typological analysis that offers a deep dive into the internal logic of the folk quatrain, including the arrangement of metaphors and rhythmic structures typical of Tajik lyrical heritage. To ensure cultural reach, the book includes a substantial collection of verses that bridge the gap between ancient nomadic wisdom and the Soviet Tajik literary landscape of the mid-20th century.
The 1957 date of publication marks a specific moment in the history of the Tajik SSR, representing the late-Stalinabad period of cultural publishing. For collectors of Soviet Orientalia, lovers of Eastern poetry, and bibliophiles interested in the history of Dushanbe, this volume is a charming and culturally significant artifact.