Print and Revolution

Print and Revolution was a Soviet literary and cultural magazine published from 1921 until 1930 by Gosizdat, the State Publishing House of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Its official subtitle described it as a journal of literature, art, criticism, and bibliography, placing it at the intersection of literary criticism, cultural commentary, publishing, and bibliographic review. The magazine belonged to the institutional publishing environment of the early Soviet period, when state-supported journals were used to organize cultural debate, evaluate new writing, and interpret artistic production in relation to revolutionary and socialist politics. The publication was established by Vyacheslav Polonsky, who was then head of the House of Press. Polonsky also served as its first editor in chief and assembled an editorial board that included prominent Soviet political and cultural figures such as Anatoly Lunacharsky, Nikolai Meshcheryakov, Ivan Skvortsov-Stepanov, and Mikhail Pokrovsky. Their participation reflected the magazine's broad remit: it was not limited to literary reviews, but also connected literary production with political thought, historical interpretation, criticism, and the development of Soviet cultural institutions. During its first years, Print and Revolution operated as a review and critical forum within Gosizdat's publishing system. Its subject matter included literature and art, while its bibliographic and review functions helped readers navigate the expanding body of Soviet and other published work. The magazine's role was therefore both interpretive and institutional. It provided a venue for criticism and debate while also reflecting the priorities of the state publishing apparatus that produced it. A major change came in 1929, when Vladimir Fritsche assumed the editorship. By this point, book reviews had been transferred to another publication, narrowing and altering Print and Revolution's original function. The magazine nevertheless continued for approximately another year. Its later issues largely reflected the perspectives and work of the newly formed Litfront group, indicating a shift toward a more defined ideological and literary alignment in the final phase of its existence. Fritsche was supported in this period by Valerian Pereverzev and Platon Kerzhentsev. Ivan Bespalov became editor in 1930, the magazine's final year. Print and Revolution ceased publication later that year. The available reference material does not identify a single formal closure decision, financial event, or successor brand; its end is instead documented as the conclusion of publication after the editorial and structural changes of 1929–1930. As a historical brand, the magazine is significant primarily as an example of early Soviet literary journalism and state publishing, rather than as a continuing commercial consumer brand.

Print and Revolution was founded in 1921 within the publishing system of the Russian SFSR. Gosizdat, the State Publishing House of the RSFSR, published the magazine, whose official subtitle identified it as a journal devoted to literature, art, criticism, and bibliography. The publication emerged during the formative period of Soviet cultural administration, when journals and publishing houses played an important role in shaping literary discussion and evaluating artistic work. Vyacheslav Polonsky, then head of the House of Press, established the magazine and served as its first editor in chief. He led an editorial board that included Anatoly Lunacharsky, Nikolai Meshcheryakov, Ivan Skvortsov-Stepanov, and Mikhail Pokrovsky. The composition of this board linked the magazine to important political, intellectual, and cultural networks of the early Soviet state. Its scope extended beyond creative writing to criticism, art, and bibliographic information, making it both a cultural journal and a guide to published material. For much of its existence, Print and Revolution functioned as a forum for literary and artistic interpretation under a state publishing institution. It reviewed and discussed literature and art while participating in the wider process through which Soviet cultural values and critical standards were articulated. The reference material does not provide issue-level circulation data, financial information, or a detailed account of its readership, so the magazine's precise commercial scale cannot be established from the available sources. The publication entered a transitional period in 1929. Vladimir Fritsche replaced Polonsky as editor in chief, with Valerian Pereverzev and Platon Kerzhentsev supporting the editorial direction. Book reviews were moved to another publication, reducing one of the functions emphasized in the magazine's original subtitle. Print and Revolution continued for roughly one more year, but its later issues increasingly reflected the views and work of the newly established Litfront group. This suggests that the magazine's final phase was shaped by contemporary literary-political alignments as well as by the reorganization of its review functions. Ivan Bespalov became editor in 1930. The magazine stopped appearing later that year, ending a nine-year run. The available source does not specify a distinct legal dissolution process, successor publication, or commercial transaction associated with the closure. Print and Revolution is therefore best understood as a defunct historical periodical brand associated with early Soviet state publishing and literary criticism.

1. 1930Final editorship and cessation

   Ivan Bespalov served as editor during the final year, after which Print and Revolution ceased publication.

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2. 1929Editorial transition and change in review functions

   Vladimir Fritsche became editor in chief, while book reviews were transferred to another publication. The magazine's subsequent issues were associated largely with the Litfront group's views and work.

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3. 1921Magazine founded and launched

   Vyacheslav Polonsky established Print and Revolution, which began publication through Gosizdat, the State Publishing House of the RSFSR.

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A state-published Soviet literary and cultural review combining literature, art, criticism, and bibliography.

• Print and RevolutionLiterary and cultural magazine1921

  The magazine's principal and only documented offering was a periodical devoted to literature, art, criticism, and bibliography. It combined cultural commentary with critical discussion and bibliographic or book-review material. In its later period, the transfer of book reviews to another publication changed the balance of its contents, while the magazine continued to publish work reflecting the literary-political perspective of the Litfront group.

• 1929Book-review function transferredStrategy

  As the magazine entered its final phase, its book reviews were moved to another publication.

  What changed. Print and Revolution continued without the book-review function that had formed part of its original remit.

  Aftermath. The magazine remained in publication for approximately another year and increasingly reflected the work and views of the Litfront group before closing in 1930.

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• 1930Ivan Bespalov becomes editor before final closure

  Ivan Bespalov became editor in the magazine's final year, after which Print and Revolution ceased publication.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 1929Vladimir Fritsche becomes editor in chief

  Vladimir Fritsche took over editorial leadership as the magazine entered its final phase, supported by Valerian Pereverzev and Platon Kerzhentsev.

  Leadership change
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• 1929Book reviews move to another publication

  The magazine's book-review function was transferred elsewhere, changing the scope of Print and Revolution while it continued publication.

  Other
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• 1921Print and Revolution begins publication under Gosizdat

  The Soviet literary-critical magazine was established under the State Publishing House of the RSFSR, with Vyacheslav Polonsky as founder and editor in chief.

  Product launch
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1. Print and Revolution