French-Language Publications in the Structure of Bookselling Interests of Academic Bookstores of the XVIII century

The article examines the spread of French-language literature in the Russian Empire during the XVIII century, from Peter I to Paul I. The spread of French literature is characterized as an integral part of Gallomania, which spread throughout Europe (including the Russian Empire) during the period under study.The process of spreading and penetrating into the consciousness of both privileged and, later, wider segments of the population of the French language and French culture as an integral part of the Enlightenment is considered.This confirms the historiographical idea that the assimilation of the French language was an important component of a cultured, enlightened person of the era.It is indicated that contacts with booksellers and the possibility of independent selection of publications by agents contributed to the successful search for the best scientific and fiction literature from the numerous European "assortment" of book products.The activity of the St. Petersburg and Moscow academic shops is characterized as an important element of the distribution of printed publications not only in St. Petersburg and Moscow, but also in provincial cities of the Russian Empire.It was found that decisions on the transformation of the forms of sale of books (in particular, the decision to close the Moscow academic bookstore in 1760) did not lead to the cessation of the distribution of books; well-established links for the supply of literature continued to operate.It is shown that French-language works contributed to the popularization of enlightenment norms, the importance of education and -what was important for the transformation of educated Russians -humanistic values.The conclusion is made about the widespread and sustained interest of Russians in the French book in the post-Soviet era.