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Vol.63/No.35       October 11, 1999  
 
 
"More people can have access to these revolutionary books"  
 
 
The report below was sent to the Militant by a construction worker in Atlanta on a successful visit to place Pathfinder's Spanish-language titles in a bookstore there.

BY MIGUEL RODRÍGUEZ 
ATLANTA – Reading the Spanish-language newspaper here, I came across an advertisement for a bookstore. I decided I had to see it, since in Atlanta it is very difficult to find bookstores with revolutionary books, especially ones in Spanish. After buying some books and magazines in the store, I talked to the proprietor. She asked me if I liked to read and I said yes — but political books. She asked "Where do you buy your books?" and I explained that many of the books in Spanish that I have read in the United States are from Pathfinder Press, and that I knew people from Pathfinder. I also suggested she should see Pathfinder books for herself.

She responded affirmatively, and a few days later an appointment was made. Two of us visited and left her a catalog. After we discussed with her some of the most current books, she indicated she wanted titles on Latin America, and we pointed out some of the Nueva Internacional series, as well as Episodes of the Cuban Revolutionary War by Che.

A few days later the Pathfinder bookstore called to tell me that the woman had ordered 27 books; I was pleased to hear this, since it was the biggest contribution that I have made to Pathfinder. When I spoke with her the first time, I didn't think she would be interested in so many Pathfinder books, since they deal only with political questions.

Among the books she ordered were the Spanish-language versions of the Selected Works of Marx and Engels, as well as Lenin; The Revolution Betrayed by Trotsky; three issues of Nueva Internacional, entitled "Che Guevara, Cuba, and the road to Socialism," "The Rise and Fall of the Nicaraguan Revolution," and "U.S. Imperialism Has Lost the Cold War;" books on Che; and a subscription to La Gaceta de Cuba, the magazine of culture and politics in Cuba.

It's worth mentioning that this bookstore is very small, and it also sells records that take up the same space inside as the books. Not only are political books sold, but among the music are collections of songs with social themes.

Now I'm convinced that I must look for more stores or other outlets, no matter how small, to speak with the proprietors, so more people can have access to these revolutionary books. In this way I can contribute not only to selling books but to strengthening the working class movement, which uses these books as one of its most effective weapons.  
 
 
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