REPORTAGE. French culture is not Mr. Bolloré: after the crisis at Grasset, the shockwave

The Paris Book Festival opened on Thursday evening against the backdrop of a crisis following the departure of Olivier Nora, CEO of Grasset for 26 years, fired by the ultraconservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré.

Published on 17/04/2026 12:51, updated on 17/04/2026 14:47.

Reading time: 4min

With 450 exhibitors and 1,800 authors expected, the entire sector is present at the Paris Book Fair, with the notable exception of most publishing houses, including Grasset, owned by Hachette, the leading French publishing company, controlled by the conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré. (XAVIER GALIANA / AFP)

170 writers are now refusing to publish with Grasset, a publishing house owned by Hachette, whose owner, the conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, is held responsible for an ideological eviction: that of Olivier Nora. This uprising occurred as the Paris Book Festival opened on Thursday, April 16. Several publishers have launched a petition to denounce “an attack on editorial diversity” following the departure of Olivier Nora.

Among them, Jean-Luc Barré, director of Plon, expresses concern for the other publishing houses of the Hachette Livre group. “There could be JC Lattès, Stock, I certainly do not wish that, and that is precisely what we are protesting against. It is not about giving in to this kind of dictate,” says Jean-Luc Barré. “French culture is not Mr. Bolloré. In the name of money, in the name of ideological and religious beliefs, one cannot allow oneself to undermine the authenticity of French culture,” he asserts.

The fair opened without Hachette Livre editions, or almost. The most prestigious houses: Fayard, JC Lattès, Stock, or Grasset, are not among the exhibitors. Some authors prefer to keep a good distance from this debate. Others take a stand, like the editor and Corsican writer Laure Limongi. “I have published three books with Grasset,” she explains, specifying that she decided to leave the publishing house at the time of its acquisition by Hachette Livre, and therefore by Vincent Bolloré, more than two years ago. “We need to ask ourselves what is happening in France with the media and publishing,” she judges, emphasizing “the issue of fake news, the issue of imposing ideas…”

Alexandre Galien also left Fayard, also part of the domain of billionaire Vincent Bolloré. The writer now donates his author’s rights associated with this publisher to the Movement against Racism and for Friendship between Peoples (MRAP). “Today, publishing houses do not hesitate to have an editorial line completely opposite to what they defended before,” he regrets. “It’s dangerous when it’s not clearly announced,” Alexandre Galien thinks. “As a reader, you need to know where you stand. If you buy from Fayard, most likely from Grasset too, you will have a politically oriented mindset,” he assures.

Even François-Xavier Bellamy, a member of the European Parliament from The Republicans and a philosopher, present at the Grand Palais, a regular on television shows hosted by the conservative billionaire, is distancing himself. “When publishing philosophy, I had the chance to be welcomed at Grasset with a real sense of freedom,” says François-Xavier Bellamy, who feels “a deep disappointment.” “Books should escape political categories,” he believes.

President Emmanuel Macron deemed it “very important” on Friday to “defend” “pluralism” and “independence” of publishing houses. “In France, we remain attached to everything that makes our strength, the freedom of authors, their quality, the role of the publisher,” said the head of state. Sylvie Robert, a socialist senator, called on Thursday to create a “conscience clause” for authors “in case of a radical change in the editorial line”.