literature

14/02/2008 > INDONESIA

Mein Kampf in pride of place on bookshop shelves

Bookshop shelves displaying both Mein Kampf and a book about Barack Obama in a department store in Jakarta

Hitler's notorious diary ‘Mein Kampf' was translated into Indonesian in 2007. An immediate bestseller for publishers Narasi, it became one of their top five favourites. An employee from the publishing house explains why. Should we be worried about this seemingly unhealthy interest coming from the most populated Muslim country in the world? Read more...

The contributors

Endy Bayuni

Dyssia Hayat

19/12/2007 > RUSSIA

Independent Moscow bookstore faces ‘pornography’ charges

Times are tough for Russian intellectuals. A Moscow bookstore is facing prosecution for the illegal distribution of pornography. If the case goes ahead, Boris Kupriyanov, the owner of Falanster, a popular bookstore-cum-gathering spot for the city's intellectuals, could face up to two years in jail. Falanster also faces closure.

The charges are based on the sale of several popular books, including Virginie Despentes' Baise Moi and Lydia Lunch's Paradoxia: A Predator's Journey, which have been confiscated and declared "pure pornography". Ostap Karmodi, one of our observers for Russia, contacted the owner of the bookshop. Read more...