The Kopeck Press

Popular Journalism in Revolutionary Russia, 1908-1918
This book explores the rich history of Russia’s penny press, highlighting the dynamic relationship between readers and journalists in shaping a democratic political culture leading up to the 1917 Revolution.
The Imperial Russian penny press was a vast network of newspapers sold for a single kopeck per issue. Emerging in cities and towns across the empire between the 1905 Revolution and the onset of the First World War, these sensational tabloids quickly became the Russian Empire’s most popular periodical genre. They appealed to a mass audience of poor and less-literate readers with their low prices and accessible language.
The Kopeck Press presents a comprehensive study of this phenomenon, examining its role both as a media genre and its significance as a vital forum for lower class political culture. Drawing on over seventy kopeck newspapers from thirty locations, Felix Cowan analyses these publications as a dialogic genre, emphasizing the interaction between journalists and readers. The book highlights how sensationalism was strategically used to advance the political goals of progressive journalists, editors, and publishers. As a genre of political media, the kopeck press revealed a moderate reformist current in Russian politics, aimed at democratizing the empire and empowering marginalized groups, significantly contributing to the political and cultural foundations of the Russian Revolution. The Kopeck Press sheds light on the crucial role of popular media in shaping public discourse and mobilizing political change in early twentieth-century Russia.

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.