Readers “like court” support Christopher Acosta’s research and sell out copies in bookstores

There are days that booksellers write down their memories. Last Monday, for example, while the courtroom of the 30th Liquidating Criminal Court of the Superior Court of Lima sentenced the journalist to two years in prison. Christopher Acosta and the editor Jerónimo Pimentel; the head of Book Vivant, Guillermo Rivas, saw how the remaining copies of “Plata como cancha”, Acosta’s research on Cesar Acuna, they disappeared from the shelf until they were exhausted. He has had to apologize to readers who virtually asked him for that particular title, and in discussing it with his colleagues he realized that it was a common phenomenon. “The reader of newspapers and political news is very sensitive to these events. He is a type of reader who runs out to find the book, “he explains.

The same thing happened at El Virrey. Paco Sanseviero, its director, is clear about it: “It has been the best-selling day for“ Plata como cancha ”since it was published. Today (Monday) he sold at least 30% of the demand in the bookstore for the whole of last year ”, he affirms. Julio César Zavala, from the Free Scene, also saw the copies run out that same day. “I understand that the demand in several bookstores is in the same projection,” he says.

A book as an emblem

It is hard to imagine a more clumsy decision than the one made by Judge Jesús Vega in his first instance sentence, agreeing with César Acuña, leader of the Alliance for Progress, in his defamation complaint. A serious mistake because it supposes a censorship of freedom of expression that is difficult to explain in a democratic context, where all journalistic investigations have the right to be disseminated. Condemning an author and his publisher because the character in question does not like the content of the book takes us back to an authoritarian past to which we do not want to return.

However, the reaction of readers repeats the counterproductive effect that usually occurs after any attempt at censorship, cover-up or instrumentalization of justice for a personal purpose. Always the book in question will end up being widely disseminated and read. As Johann Page, editor of Penguin Random House, an editorial disputed with the journalist, explains, “Plata como cancha” could become an emblem of the fight against injustices coming from a judicial apparatus that has distorted its nature. “If the book manages to transcend and unite different ideological factions and unions in the name of a greater good such as freedom of expression, everyone at the publisher will feel rewarded,” he said.

By the way, the editorial director of PRH points out that this intimidation attempt will have no effect, in practical terms, on the publisher. A new reprint of “Plata como cancha” is already underway to restock it in bookstores in the coming days. Until today, the rigorous investigation of Christopher Acosta on the leader of the Alliance for Progress has sold about 14 thousand books, and he trusts that, with the current situation, the demand will be much higher. “This amount represents a lot for a non-fiction book in our environment. It speaks not only of the forcefulness of its author’s research, but also of the public’s need for reading. It was one of the best-selling books of 2021 and it will surely be again this year, “he says.

Will continue to circulate

What is happening today with Acosta’s book is part of a long history of volumes that suffered censorship attempts, threats or legal actions by the censor with economic or political power (and in the case of César Acuña, both). However, far from being eliminated, these books received great publicity, and ended up spreading rapidly among readers. Social networks, of course, are a vehicle for that outrage resulting from attempts to silence journalism. A means of relief against authoritarian powers that try to legitimize those who exercise violence or intimidation.

As it is recalled, in mid-March 2021, César Acuña’s lawyers denounced the author of the “Silver as court” before Indecopi, requesting that the book be taken out of circulation, which was quickly rejected. That is why all legal recourse to prevent the book from being offered in bookstores are completely exhausted. However, the current criminal trial, whose judgment in the first instance has been appealed, is based on 53 sentences extracted from Acosta’s investigation, which for Acuña’s defense are defamatory.

“In some way, we had already foreseen this new wave of attention for the book, although not in these terms, with an initially unfavorable situation that we will try to overcome in the best way. Finally, what interests us is that the book is read. We are talking about a rigorous investigation, worked and seriously reviewed. The authorities and politicians must know that they too are under the scrutiny of the citizens ”, he explains.

Likewise, Page comments not only that all the bookstores have called the publisher to request reruns, but that many of them have spoken publicly, in support of Cristopher Acosta and the common quest for freedom of expression. “This is a fight that transcends us. It goes beyond Cristopher Acosta and the publisher. It is something that should unite us all as citizens and as Peruvians. We need more books like this, with equal rigor, because the investigation on our authorities must remain firm. The renewed interest that the book has aroused is a healthy sign that Peruvian readers want to reach the truth and know how to respond to an injustice, “he warns.

For this reason, beyond the concern of litigating before an unpredictable judiciary, Page points out that within the editorial team there is a spirit of hope. “The possibility of uniting readers, press, politicians and artists around a common good has renewed our hope at work. That outweighs the negative feelings, ”he says.

————-

Legend:

Christopher Acosta’s “Plata como cancha” book is still in various bookstores. The publisher announces an extensive reprint in the coming days.

All censorship, in the long run, is a clumsy endeavor. Its effects are always counterproductive, especially in times of social networks.