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In France, the historical birthplace of novel literature, this year’s literary season is beginning with a noticeable restraint, displaying a number of publications that has not been this low in a quarter of a century, a phenomenon exacerbated by the economic impact of rising paper costs.
Every year, as summer comes to an end, the literary season is a very important event of the French culture. A true institution for over a century, it crystallizes debates and sparks controversies in the national artistic landscape. However, this year 2023 stands out with a significant peculiarity: a marked decrease in production.
According to the renowned magazine “Livres Hebdo,” only 466 novels are expected between mid-August and the end of October. This figure, the lowest recorded since the beginning of the 21st century, shows a 5% decline compared to 2022. It’s also well below the historical peak of 2010, a year that saw the publication of around 700 novels.
Several factors can explain this trend. First and foremost, the high cost of paper, although slightly lower than its peak from the previous year, has a considerable impact on production. Furthermore, concerns related to readers’ purchasing power cast shadows over the publishing world. It’s in this context that the deliberation for prestigious literary awards, including the coveted Goncourt Prize, will take place.
Yet, despite this decline, the French publishing industry remains resilient. It finds its salvation, particularly, in paperback books. These moderately priced reissues are more popular than ever. The GfK Institute, a reference for sales in the sector, indicates that 81 million of these books were sold last year, compared to 78 million for new releases.
The book industry in France is a force to be reckoned with. Regarded as the foremost cultural industry, it generates 80,000 jobs, which is nearly 20% of all jobs in the cultural sector. An economic influence that cannot be underestimated.
Globally, France ranks as the fifth country in terms of publication production per capita, according to a 2015-2016 ranking by the International Publishers Association. The United Kingdom holds the first place, followed by Iceland, a country with an astonishing statistic: one in ten inhabitants will publish a book in their lifetime, as attested by the Guinness World Records website.
This literary season also marks a significant turning point in the French publishing landscape. The publishing house Grasset, an emblem of literary excellence, is about to change hands. Its parent company, Hachette Livre — the third-largest publisher in the world — has been acquired by the Vivendi Group under the leadership of billionaire Vincent Bolloré.
This upheaval promises to redefine the French book market, and the coming months will undoubtedly be full of twists and turns.
With AFP
