Bombshell in the French publishing sector
More than 100 authors have announced they will leave France's leading publisher Grasset in protest at the dismissal of its long-time CEO, Olivier Nora. Nora is to be replaced by Jean-Christophe Thiery, a close associate of ultra-conservative billionaire, media mogul and Grasset-owner Vincent Bolloré, who, the authors fear, will exert political interference. The press also voices consternation.
We are not trophies
The publishing world faces huge challenges, explains publisher Antoine Gallimard in Le Monde:
“Our role as publishers and editors of literature and the humanities is to guarantee neutrality. ... We must show total solidarity with Olivier Nora and his authors. Their resistance is an act of courage, for they are not defending a book, but a catalogue, a history, a legacy. The publishing industry must say loudly and clearly: we are not trophies. When political radicalism dictates how a publishing house is run, it becomes a threat to free publishing. ... The challenge is clear: we must strengthen our protection mechanisms. ... There is still time to act.”
Risk of extending the battle zone
The Grasset affair reveals the risks the publishing world faces, La Libre Belgique comments:
“Fundamentally, this issue goes far beyond Grasset. It touches on the growing porosity between the economic and political spheres, and the capacity for a country to maintain truly independent and pluralist spaces. Olivier Nora and his authors will continue their trajectories in other directions. Publishing houses will continue to evolve, and that's a good thing. What is crucial, however, is that these developments continue to be driven by literary and economic considerations rather than a logic of influence. Otherwise there's a clear risk that the book becomes a driver of division in an already deeply polarised society.”
The icy winds of reactionary populism
This affair bears all the hallmarks of US populism, observes Le Temps:
“The replacement of Olivier Nora with an associate of the far-right industrialist Vincent Bolloré clearly signals the wholesale 'Trumpisation' of the France's top publishing group Hachette Livre. ... The icy winds of reactionary populism are blowing across the Atlantic and hitting Saint-Germain-des-Prés with full force. ... The whole image of French excellence in the cultural sector is being tarnished – the respect for editorial independence and quality. The freedom to explore, to criticise, to resist and to say no.”