Russian Emigrant Publishing House “Northern Lights” in Sweden (1920—1923): History and Significance

The “peripheral” status of the Russian emigration community in Sweden is due to the geographical location of the country and the absence of major publishing centers. The most fruitful period for the Russian Abroad in Sweden was the first half of the 1920s. At that time, the publishing enterprise “Northern Lights”, founded by I.A. Lundel and E.A. Lyatsky, was operating in Stockholm. During 1920—1923 the organization published about two dozen editions. These were mainly fiction, entertainment, popular science and practical books. A study of the external and internal conditions of the book market showed that it was E.A. Lyatsky who predetermined the short-term success of the organization and its further fate. The publishing house was closed down as unprofitable due to its reliance on expensive quality editions, unprofitable sales logistics and unfulfilled co-operation with Soviet Russia. Professor E.A. Lyatsky repeatedly tried to save “Northern Lights”, even to the point of moving the organization to Czechoslovakia. Nevertheless, having given his enterprise a name and built up a reputation, he did not preserve the repertoire, staff and internal culture. This project was important for E.A. Lyatsky, but only a stage in his humanitarian and informational struggle against Bolshevism. It is on the example of “Northern Lights” and especially the personality of its founder that the mission, values and political orientation of the Russian emigration as a whole can be clearly traced. It is important to comprehensively evaluate this historical experience in the context of the development of modern Russia.

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