Pasajeros y lectores: las estrategias de la SGEL en la red ferroviaria española (1914-1936)

Abstract

This article is about the contribution of the bookshops in railways diffusing the reading in Spanish society in the first third of twentieth century. The «Sociedad General Española de Librería, Diario, Revistas y Publicaciones, S. A. (SGEL)», a subsidiary company in relation to French firm Hachette, established in Spain in 1914 and gradually achieved the sole right to run the bookshops in railway stations. This company modernized the service in platforms bookshops in relation to the installations and publications and also extended establishments network. In numerous small towns these kiosks were the only bookselling places, while in many others they were the best bookshops because of the wide range in national and foreign titles and as well as the swiftness in novelties supply. In this way railway became a basic channel to books and readings circulation. The long distances urged the travellers to read, the kiosks in the stations made easy to buy books, and railway made possible to distribute texts and magazines all over Spain. Finally platforms became notable places to purchase all kinds of works and periodicals.