Smirdin and Son

The author of historical novels and stories, the renowned professor of book science Alexander Alekseevich Govorov studied the history of books and the book trade for many years, participating in the creation of textbooks, including the world's first textbook for antiquarians and booksellers.

Before you is a novel that tells about the life and fate of Alexander Filippovich Smirdin, an outstanding Russian publisher and bookseller, who laid the foundations of domestic publishing and educational activities. Alexander Smirdin left a significant mark in the history of Russian literature, becoming the first to introduce royalties as a mandatory part of the publishing process in Russia. Thanks to his efforts, print runs of books grew to enormous numbers for that time, making the book market accessible to residents of all corners of the country.