It is the Book Fair of records.
At the gates of the Lingotto the queues are very long, all day long. The budget for publishers - large and small - is excellent, better than the wildest expectations. Sales are higher than those of 2019, the latest edition in attendance, a real boom for some. There is a crowd in the stands and at the meetings with the authors, queues at the 'firmacopie'. Many publishing houses report a lower average age of the public than usual, with many young people who do not just take a tour, but stock up on titles. Books like 'Spillover' by David Quammen, the Covid prophet, who connected with the Salone on Thursday, are making their mark, but it is just an example.
"Such a thing was not imaginable. A flood of people, a lot of affection. They will be more or less the visitors of 2019, but I had expected half. Let's not forget that there are 20,000 fewer students. Amazing numbers" underlines the director Nicola Lagioia which will take stock of the Salone tomorrow.
Mondadori reports for all the publishing houses of the group an average increase in sales of over 30% over 2019, for Laterza, which celebrates 120 years at the Salone, "they are higher than 2018, the golden year". Sellerio records a 30% growth on the last Salone, Giulio Perrone Editore estimates an increase of 60%, for E / O which has among the strengths the books of Valerie Perrin the increase is 50%. Adelphi is also growing with the Countess by Benedetta Craveri and Yoga by Emmanuel Carrere.
"It's going better than expected, yesterday was a good day. There were more than a thousand people at the meeting with Alberto Angela. Sales are at the same levels as two years ago, an excellent result. Alberto Angela, by Sabina Guzzanti, by Antonella Lattanzi, but also novelties such as The secret of the apothecary by Sarah Penner and Thoni by Giuseppe Ferrario, finalist of the Strega boys. The balance is positive both from a qualitative point of view and among the professionals. There is a great enthusiasm for the recovery and a lot of warmth from the public, lots of children, a truly. Beautiful return "says Laura Donnini, managing director of Harpercollins Italy. "It is a very nice show, we have seen many young people. Sales are up by 30%,driven by titles such as Bolle di Sapone by Malvaldi and Mastro Geppetto by Fabio Stassi ", explains Antonio Sellerio." An extraordinary edition, we have found a eager and willing Turin, there is a great desire for books. Our sales exceed those of 2019 and 2018 by 60% with Aixa De La Cruz, nominated for the European Strega Award and the books of the new Mosche d'oro series directed by Nadia Terranova ", says Antonio Sunseri (Giulio Perrone Editore).candidate for the European Strega Prize and the books of the new Mosche d'oro series directed by Nadia Terranova ", says Antonio Sunseri (Giulio Perrone Editore).candidate for the European Strega Prize and the books of the new Mosche d'oro series directed by Nadia Terranova ", says Antonio Sunseri (Giulio Perrone Editore).
Even the 'little ones' are satisfied.
"An unprecedented edition for the great desire to return to the Salone. Sales are very good for everyone, definitely more than in the past. We did not expect it, we ran out of titles and restocked quickly. I expected good success but not of this scope "underlines Gianmario Pilo, director of the Turin independent publishing house Add. (ANSA).
