Why Does France Have More Independent Bookstores?
Posted by Thomas Riggs in Bookselling books independent on July 21, 2009
Not long ago I went to the Festival du Livre in Nice. Set in a park two minutes from the sea, the book festival featured scores of writers, all lined up at tables with their books. As it was summer and the sky was blue, it was blissful to meander from one table to another, talking to writers and buying books.
But no need to imagine. Here is a video of the Nice book festival, including scenes of the sea, a market, writers signing books, even a socialist union demonstration. It was filmed by Valérie Bonnier, a French actress turned novelist.
How is the book business in France? Well, consider these numbers. France, with a population of 65 million people, has 3,500 independent bookstores. The United States, with 300 million people, has 2,200. France not only has more independent bookstores but, per capita, tops the United States seven to one.
Why? One reason might be France’s “prix unique du livre,” which allows publishers (or in the case of foreign books, importers) to set book prices. Thus, an independent bookstore in a small street in Paris has the same prices as Amazon.com. A maximum 5 percent discount is allowed.
France is not alone. Twelve other countries in Europe have fixed book prices. Switzerland, which had abandoned fixed prices, took the first step toward reinstating them this year.
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