Bolloré affirms that “Grasset will continue” with “new authors” regardless of the departures | EUROtoday

Grasset “will continue” regardless of the introduced departure of some 170 of its authors “and those who leave will allow new authors to be published”, asserts within the Journal du Dimanche the conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, who controls Hachette, the group to which the publishing home belongs.

Mr. Bolloré is shocked, in a column revealed on this newspaper additionally in his purse, on the “uproar” attributable to the departure of the CEO of Grasset, Olivier Nora, denouncing “a small caste which believes itself to be above everything and everyone and which co-opts and supports itself”.

Some 170 writers shook the normally hushed world of publishing this week with their unprecedented determination to refuse to publish new books with Grasset after the departure of Olivier Nora, blamed by many authors on Vincent Bolloré. In an open letter, they denounced “an unacceptable attack on the editorial independence” of the distinguished home.

In his response revealed within the JDD, Vincent Bolloré confirms that the choice is linked to a “dispute” with Olivier Nora over the publication date of the subsequent e book by the Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, which arrived in March at Grasset.

“On June 6, the Grasset house will have the joy and honor of releasing the new book by Boualem Sansal (…). The manager of Grasset wanted to release it at the end of the year – which was contrary to the wishes of the Hachette management, which is the real owner of Grasset”, writes Vincent Bolloré, who remembers within the preamble of his textual content that he doesn’t have “any function at Hachette”.

The conservative billionaire additionally factors to a context of “very disappointing economic performance of Maison Grasset” and a rise in Olivier Nora’s annual remuneration.

Despite the revolt of authors in latest days, “Grasset will continue and those who leave will allow new authors to be published, promoted, recognized and appreciated”, believes Vincent Bolloré.

“As for the attacks concerning my + ideology +, I remind you once again: I am a Christian Democrat and the leaders of Hachette will continue to publish all the authors who wish,” he concludes.