How the „socialist book” was created? The meetings of publishers and booksellers from Eastern Bloc countries 1965-1988

Abstract

On the basis of the press and archival materials author of the article provides an analysis of documents presenting the course and effects of the meetings of the book publishing and book trade managing boards from Eastern Bloc countries in the years 1965-1988. Dariusz Jarosz maintains that this form of co-operation implemented ideological and political aims imposed by Moscow and leadership of communist parties from Middle Eastern Europe. These aims dealt with – among others – publishing books connected with anniversaries of historical events and with persons who were important from the communist movement ideology point of view and which interpreter modern world’s problems from this perspective. This co-operation was mostly realised through translation of selected books into national languages of the socialist countries. These books were published in series (the most known were Socialism – Experiences, Problems, Perspectives („Socjalizm – Doświadczenia, Problemy, Perspektywy”), The Real Socialism („Realny Socjalizm”), The Library of Victory („Biblioteka Zwycięstwa”)). The participants of the meetings tried (with mediocre effect) to bring their offer beyond the Iron Curtain. In order to do so there were established special The Socialist Countries’ Coordination Board for Publishing and Dissemination of Social and Socialist Literature in Non-Socialist Countries. The effects of the Board’s activities were very limited and raised many doubts among the members of this body The effectivity of imposed co-operation, embodied by the discussed meetings was much smaller than planned.