Gisèle Pelicot’s book, Et la joie de vivre, sold over 60,000 copies in the week following its release, taking the top spot in sales rankings, Flammarion, the publisher, announced on Wednesday. Published on February 17 and backed by a strong media campaign, the work by Gisèle Pelicot and journalist Judith Perrignon sold 63,574 copies out of an initial print run of 150,000, according to the publishing house, based on data from the specialized institute GfK. “We are satisfied. This is a very good number for the launch of a testimonial book,” Flammarion stated, also celebrating excellent results in the UK, Germany, and Norway.
Et la joie de vivre was released on February 17 in 22 languages, including English, German, and Spanish. In the United States, the book is titled A hymn to life, Shame has to change sides. Gisèle Pelicot, 73, recounts the rapes organized by her ex-husband Dominique with dozens of men and the historic trial of Avignon, which turned her into an international figure in the fight against sexual violence.
A tour abroad
After presenting her book in Paris, Gisèle Pelicot began a tour abroad. She was received on Monday in London by Queen Camilla, who expressed being “shocked” by what the Frenchwoman had experienced. Her tour will take her to Germany, then to Spain in early March, followed by Italy, Canada, and New York. In France, she will present the book in several cities, including Aix-en-Provence.
