literature

Congo-Brazaville president fakes praise from Nelson Mandela

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:47:27 +0200

Congo-Brazzaville President Denis Sassou-Nguesso lied about Nelson Mandela writing the foreword to his recently published book, "Straight Speaking for Africa", says the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which is now threatening legal action for the "abuse". "This is a false claim. Mr Mandela has neither read the book nor written a foreword for it," they said in a statement published on the foundation's website on Tuesday.

In what would be an unusual choice for Mandela, part of the description of Congo-Brazzaville's long-time dictator and warmonger reads:

"In President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, I recognize a man who is not only one of our great African leaders ... but also one of those who gave their unconditional support to our fighters' demand for freedom, and who worked tirelessly to free oppressed peoples from their chains and help restore their dignity and hope."

Publishers Michel Lafon said that they were sent the foreword by Sassou-Nguesso.

Le Clézio's Nobel prize – so French culture isn't dead after all!

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:21:19 +0200

Le Clézio during a trip to Guadeloupe in October 2007. Posted on Flickr by "Le crédit voyage".

French writer Jean-Marie Le Clézio has just received the Nobel Prize for Literature. For blogger Guillaume Thouroude, the award is proof that despite "American sniggers", French culture is not dead after all.

Mein Kampf in pride of place on bookshop shelves

Julien — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:30:04 +0100

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?

The book comes in two volumes; both with the swastika on the front cover. It's got prime place in most big bookshops; in a country that consists 85% Muslims, and has only thirty confessed Jews despite a 234 million-strong population.

Independent Moscow bookstore faces ‘pornography’ charges

Julien — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:40:23 +0100

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". But some of the confiscated books are openly stocked and sold in other Moscow bookstores as well as Russia's online site, ozon.ru.

While reiterating that Falanster is not a political organization, Kupriyanov notes that the number of independent intellectual enterprises in Moscow has been dwindling in recent times.

Ostap Karmodi, one of our observers for Russia, contacted the owner of the bookshop. Post your questions to him on his profile page.