«Γιατί τα σοσιαλιστικά βιβλία τραβιένται πολύ…»: Εκδοτική παραγωγή, ιστορικά βιβλία και Αριστερά στη μεσοπολεμική Ελλάδα (1922-1936)

Abstract

This article examines the multifaceted role of leftist historical books in interwar Greece, focusing on their function as vehicles of ideological formation, political contestation, and cultural transmission. Moving beyond the confines of party publications, the study conceptualizes the “leftist book” as part of a wider ecosystem of intellectual production that included translations, original works, and interdisciplinary contributions from political economy, sociology, and related fields. Through this broader lens, the article demonstrates how the Left appropriated and redefined history, linking past struggles with contemporary social realities and future aspirations, primarily through the methodological framework of historical materialism. The first part of the article explores the publishing field, identifying the main publishers, translators, and networks that sustained the production and circulation of leftist books. The second part turns to the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), not only as a producer of texts but also as a bookseller and distributor. By examining its strategies of dissemination, pricing policies, and readership initiatives, the article underscores the role of the Party in shaping access to literature and in embedding books into the everyday practices of political education. The third part analyzes the thematic range of these works, from world-historical events such as the Russian Revolution to interpretations of Greek history, examining how the Left situated the Greek past within broader international genealogies. By mapping this complex terrain, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of the interconnections between publishing practices, intellectual debates, and political identities in interwar Greece.