A Contemporary Italian Publishing Phenomenon: The Millelire Series

Abstract

Millelire -1.000 lire- is the name given to a provocative paperback series created by the Roman publisher Marcello Baraghini in 1990. Millelire are miniature books (15 x 10.5 cm) bound with simple, two-colour paper covers and held together by two staples. They contain, on average, sixty-four pages and are sold for the minimal price of 1.000 lire (one Australian dollar). Through publishing Millelire, Baraghini aspires to offer a publishing alternative. I maintain he does this in two ways. First, through his publishing policies, and second, by proposing an idealistic cultural politics. The Millelire publishing phenomenon will be investigated by applying the methodology of book history. The term 'revolution' has been applied on many occasions to describe Baraghini's Millelire initiative. It has two connotations. First, as a term that is appropriate to the politicised marketing language Baraghini uses to promote his series, and second, as a means to describe the sharp impact of these little books on the Italian book market and reading practices. My objective is to determine whether the Millelire publishing initiative and its impact on the Italian book market and reading public are significant enough to warrant the notion of a 'revolution' in publishing.