Hi, this is Ivan Smurov, and recently my text on how banned books are sold underground in Russia came out in Verstka ...

Hi, this is Ivan Smurov, and recently my text on how banned books are sold underground in Russia came out in Verstka.

When I took on this piece, I understood that every new ban always brings new ways to get around it. But I did not expect the underground book market to be so large, diverse, and inventive.

I found a lot of people who resell banned books on Avito and disguise their titles with riddles and rebuses. I spoke with people involved in all kinds of piracy. I also talked to authors of banned texts and to publishers who release books abroad and then secretly bring them into Russia.

People involved with illegal literature are up against a well-built censorship machine, and they risk at the very least getting a huge fine. But they still manage to organize the distribution and sale of books, whether through small publishing houses abroad, pirate reprints, or resellers on marketplaces. And thanks to them, readers can encounter texts that matter to them for one reason or another, whatever the state may think about it.

One thing that especially pleased me was my interview with Kayla Ancrum, the author of The Wicker King: she told me that in principle she is not worried about piracy of her books in Russia, because there are things far more important than money.

“For me, people and the fight for freedom and visibility in society will always matter more. If you are a young member of the LGBT community in Russia reading a pirated copy of my book, know this: I approve, I am not angry with you, and I hope you enjoy the book.”

I can share that position 100%. And after working on this text, I am absolutely sure of one thing: no matter how hard the authorities try to trample literature on topics they dislike, these books will always find their way to the reader, no matter what.

Read the piece on the Verstka website (with VPN):

Link not working? Read it here.

😘 Subscribe to whatever donation tier works for you on our Patreon

Verstka

“Interesting books about Young Pioneers”: how bans in Russia gave rise to an underground literature industry

Fans resell banned books on marketplaces and print pirated copies