"Real oasis in darkness"

In “Signature Publications”-an independent book of St. Petersburg with a centenary history-security officials came and seized books with “signs of LGBT ideology”. What do readers think about this?

The security forces came with an audit in an independent bookstore “Signature Publications” in St. Petersburg. They seized several dozen books in the store, in which they found “signs of LGBT ideology”.

What do visitors to the famous book think about this? Novyevropa talked with readers of “Signature publications” and resembles the history of the store.

In search of books with "Signs of LGBT Ideology"

In the independent book “Signature Publications” in St. Petersburg, security officials came this afternoon. According to television channel 78 and Mash on the Moika , the prosecutor's office arranged a check in the store due to denunciations. They seized “several dozen books” with “signs of LGBT ideology”, but which ones are unknown. It is also unclear who complained about the store.

The verification in “Signature publications” was also reported “Caution Media”: according to them, representatives of the prosecutor's office came to the store, who “had questions for several books by AD Marginem.”

According to his editor -in -chief Mikhail Kotomin, what specific books from the assortment caused suspicions of the prosecutor’s office this time is unknown. He added that the books of the publishing house "often appear in various crazy lists that roam, like" Flying Dutchman ", for different organizations."

“Often there are bizarre positions such as“ one -way street ”of Walter Benjamin or“ oversee and punish ”Michel Foucault,

- said Kotomin.

The founder of “Signature publications” Mikhail Ivanov confirmed to Rotontus that inspectors came to the book. According to the telegram channel, the security forces gave employees a list of 48 books that need to be removed from the shelves. Among them are the collection “On Women” by the philosopher Susan Umbrella and the collection of essays “7 texts about feminism. The disarming gender ”with the female Daria Serenko in the authors. In addition, the list has works of journalists Valery Panyushkin and Sergey Parkhomenko, as well as the novel “Doctor Garin” by Vladimir Sorokin.

"I will not stop there - and only there - to buy books while they exist"

Independent books, in particular, “signature publications” give the opportunity to read the most different literature without restrictions, said one of the visitors to the Svetlana store ( the names hereinafter have been changed for security reasons. - Approx. Ed. ). It is unfortunate that these possibilities “are inexorably narrowing every year,” she added.

“The terrible news. I'm shocked. “Signature publications” is my favorite bookstore, the best in the city. I don't go to other books anymore. A carefully selected assortment, you do not have to make your way through the mountains of Trash to get the pearl. Intelligent and amiable employees. Excellent cafes. And now still a magnificent Bukinistic department. And this is not to mention the most interesting events that are held in the store. Real oasis in darkness. I wish them to stay afloat without sacrificing their uniqueness, ”said another reader Olga.

“I love“ signature publications ”and everyone who put a hand in creating a new symbol of St. Petersburg. I will not stop there - and only there - to buy books while they exist ",

- added a visitor to Valeria.

According to another interlocutor, Mary, such actions of the authorities indicate that freedom of speech in Russia becomes an anachronism: “There are no words. I often visited the book, bought books to myself and friends as a gift. It is sad that a lot of good literature will become inaccessible to readers of the store, ”Maria regrets.

Another reader, Marina, said in a conversation with Novy-Europe that after such checks of the security forces there was immediately a desire to read the seized books and make their own opinion about them-without “tips” from the state. “Dunces are an abomination. The store is a team of smart, creative, curious people and a wonderful collection of books. There could be the future of such stores, ”she added.

Readers in social networks are also asked to publish a list of seized books: “So good boots. We must take. "

What are the “signature publications” known?

“Signature publications” is one of the most famous book Petersburg, a store with an almost hundred -year history. They opened in Leningrad in 1926, when books “By subscription” began to be distributed throughout the country. In the store they sold books, magazines, encyclopedias and, as the name of the name, made subscriptions on them. In addition, meetings with publishers and authors were held in the book. During the war years, the building where the store was located was bombed twice, but he continued to work even in the blockade of Leningrad.

In the Soviet years, lines from subscribers of a large Russian encyclopedia were built into the cashier every time the next volume came from the printing house. But over time, the popularity of books and magazines “by subscription” came to naught, and in the 2010s the store experienced great difficulties.

Now “signature” is a cozy store where you can spend all day, reading and discussing books and snacking in a coffee shop located directly in the book. You can sit either in silence, or with music, with coffee and a computer. Since 2014, book premieres, lectures and meetings with writers have also been held there.

“For 12 years, I have been going to the store every day and have been doing books. We have an amazing team that, it seems to me, is able to get out in any situation, no matter what happens: Covids, War and so on. We manage to maintain both our own fighting spirit and generate something bypassing certain restrictions, ” said Mikhail Ivanov, a co-owner of“ Signature publications ”.

In 2017, the book launched its online store, and later-its own production of souvenirs, the office and the publishing house. In the same year, the owners decided to publish their own book - Dialogues with director Alexander Sokurov. As a result, the “signature” accounts have several published books, mainly non-fiction about cinema and culture.

Since 2020, “signature publications” have been conducting charitable auctions in their accounts on Instagram and Telegram. In particular, in March of 2022, a collection of poems by Joseph Brodsky “A Part of Speech”, released in the United States in 1980 and signed by the author himself, was an auction. The book was sold for 1 million rubles, and the funds from the sale were sent to the Human Rights, Advita and Anton here nearby with the charity organizations.