The novelist Annie Ernaux has published all her novels and autobiographical stories with Gallimard.
Books that have sold nearly 4 million copies to date.
According to Jean-Charles Grunstein, commercial director of the publishing house, with his recent Nobel Prize for Literature, they could quickly soar to 5 million.
How did you manage this Nobel Prize for Literature awarded to Annie Ernaux?
JEAN-CHARLES GRUNSTEIN.
We hadn't anticipated anything, but once announced, we were immediately approached by booksellers.
We immediately launched reprints of his novels which, today, are around 900,000 copies distributed 85% in paperback at Folio and 15% in large format in our Blanche, Imaginaire and Quarto collections.
Reprints are gradually arriving in bookstores.
Annie Ernaux has a long career.
Her first book "Les Armoires vides" was published by Gallimard in 1974 and she has since published more than 20 novels and autobiographical stories.
What titles did you reprint first?
"The Young Man", his last novel which is already selling very well and also the Quarto "Writing Life" which includes a large number of his works, "the Years" or "the Place" (Prix Renaudot 1984).
Are Annie Ernaux's books still selling well?
She is a recognized writer with a strong notoriety.
She did not wait for the Nobel Prize to meet a large audience.
It affects all generations as evidenced by its greatest success "la Place", which sold more than 800,000 copies.
“Le Jeune Homme” has exceeded 100,000 sales and “Les Années” has sold 400,000 books, including 160,0000 in large format.
Today, Annie Ernaux has sold nearly 4 million books.
And with the Nobel?
We are convinced that it will widen its audience and we can hope to reach 5 million copies, especially since a Nobel Prize in Literature extends over a fairly long period.
This award will give the author increased visibility abroad even if her work is already appreciated in Germany, Spain, Great Britain or the United States.
Moreover, before going to receive her award in Stockholm, she is leaving next week for New York!
You don't suffer from the paper crisis?
We managed to meet our needs, but it's true that this year, it's more complicated.
You have to be patient…