“Cheap books” for the people about the Russo-Japanese War
https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2025-9-66-82
Abstract
A special group of sources on the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 are the so-called “cheap books for the people”, mass-published “on the topic of the day” and of diverse genres. The appearance of such publications was caused by the sharply increased interest of the Russian public in everything connected with Japan and the Far East. “Cheap books” represent the entire Russian political spectrum of the early 20th century – from extreme right-wing, Black Hundred groups to openly Marxist works. It was often emphasized that part of the profit, or all of the proceeds from the publication, were directed to “strengthening the Russian fleet”, “to the Red Cross fund”, “to help sick and wounded soldiers”, “for the benefit of orphans”, etc. Authors and publishers thus expressed their patriotic feelings, and sought to help their country in the fight against the Far Eastern enemy.
About the Author
A. O. Buranok
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Aleksandr O. Buranok, Cand. of Sci. (History), associate professor
6-6, Miusskaya Sq., Moscow, Russia, 125047
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Review
For citations:
Buranok A.O. “Cheap books” for the people about the Russo-Japanese War. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin: “Literary Teory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies”, Series. 2025;(9):66-82. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2025-9-66-82
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