Paris (France) (AFP) – Conservative billionaire Vincent Bollore unapologetically vowed Sunday to find new authors for one of France’s most prestigious publishers after about 170 said they would leave in protest at political interference. The writers shook the normally genteel world of French publishing by refusing to publish new books with Grasset following the departure of its chief executive, which they blamed on Bollore. In an open letter, they denounced “an unacceptable attack on the editorial independence” of the publishing house created in 1907.
Bollore, a devout Roman Catholic who has spent part of his family’s fortune on a media empire aligned with his conservative views, expressed surprise at the “uproar” at the publishing house but insisted it would carry on. In a commentary published by the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, which he also owns, Bollore blamed “a small caste that believes itself above everything and everyone, and that co-opts and supports itself.” Despite the protests, “Grasset will continue, and those who are leaving will allow new authors to be published, promoted, recognised, and appreciated,” Bollore said.
Grasset made its name with French literary giants such as Francois Mauriac and Andre Malraux. Among the authors who have quit in support of chief executive Oliver Nora are philosopher Bernard Henri-Levy and prize-winning writers Virginie Despentes and Sorj Chalandon. “We refuse to be hostages in an ideological war aimed at imposing authoritarianism everywhere in culture and the media,” they said in their letter.
Bollore’s family made its money through ports and trading in Africa. But the tycoon has bought the Hachette group that owns Grasset and other top publishers, as well as the Canal Plus pay-TV and C-News channels, the Europe 1 radio station and magazines such as Elle. His move has been cheered by conservatives as rebalancing what they see as long-standing left-wing bias in French media.
But more than 300 writers and literary industry figures signed a joint commentary published Saturday that highlighted concern over the “the ideological orientation identified in the public debate” on Bollore’s companies. “As for the attacks concerning my ‘ideology,’ I reiterate once again: I am a Christian Democrat, and Hachette’s management will continue to publish all authors who wish to be published,” Bollore responded.
Bollore said Nora, who had run the publisher for 26 years, left after a difference over the publication date for a book by French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, who was released from an Algerian prison last year. He also attacked Nora’s management of Grasset, saying that while its turnover had fallen by 25 percent in 2025, Nora’s salary had increased from 830,000 euros to one million euros ($977,000 to $1.17 million).
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