“
The closer the release date approached, the more we became aware that the media echo around the book promised to be important.
The day before its release, Les Fossoyeurs was out of stock on Amazon
, ”says Sophie de Closets, patroness of the Fayard house, publisher of the book
“Les Fossoyeurs”
(400 pages, 22.90 euros) by Victor Castanet.
Read alsoOrpea scandal: the obstacle course of families to get their loved ones out of nursing homes
The independent journalist Victor Castanet describes in this very detailed investigation the mistreatment, embezzlement and lucrative excesses of certain nursing homes in the private sector.
In the midst of turmoil since its publication, the Orpea group, the French leader in retirement homes, tried to light a first counterfire by dismissing its general manager, Yves Le Masne, who had been in place for more than ten years.
The new CEO, Philippe Charrier, must in the coming days explain the revelations of the book to the Minister Delegate for Autonomy, Brigitte Bourguignon.
13,195 copies sold in five days
In five days, 13,195 copies of the book
"Les Fossoyeurs"
were sold.
First sales figures which presage a real success, when we know that the successful author of this beginning of the year, Michel Houellebecq, sells an average of 22,000 copies per week of his latest book
Anéantir
.
“We had made a first print run of 18,000 copies, available on the day of its release
, explains Sophie de Closets.
The difficulty when we first presented the book to sales reps was that we couldn't reveal its contents.
We could simply say that it was an exceptional investigation into the nursing home sector
”.
The book is now in its seventh reprint.
The total print run should exceed 125,000 copies next week.
“We are now in tight flow, there is a very strong demand from bookstores.
Many customers have placed an order, they want to immerse themselves in Victor's story, ”
explains the editor.
Reprint times are two to four business days.
Then, once the printed matter has arrived in stock, it must be sent to the customers.
A book signed at the end of 2018
“
All the Fayard teams and the author Victor Castanet are very happy to see that a book can cause such awareness on a major subject that concerns all French people.
We hope it will help change things in a positive way
,” says Sophie de Closets.
With the approach of the presidential election, the work of Victor Castanet nourishes a necessary reflection on the methods of taking charge of dependency in France.
The Fayard house signed the author at the end of 2018. “
Three years ago, Victor published an article on homosexuality in nursing homes, says
Sophie de Closets
.
Thanks to the first testimonies they had received from caregivers, he had been informed of certain facts concerning the establishment Les Bords de Seine in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
He came to see me at that time to offer me a broader investigation into the failings and excesses of the sector.
The investigation finally took on a considerable scale
.