Will we find Jordan Bardella's book on the shelves of Mayenne bookstores? The autobiography of the president of the National Rally, called “What I'm looking for”, comes out on Saturday November 9 from Éditions Fayard… but several independent bookstores in our department have chosen not to pre-order it.
While the SNCF finally gave up advertising the work in its stationsunder cover of the principle of neutrality, independent bookstores in Mayen are boycotting the book by the far-right politician. This is the case of the M'Lire bookstore in Laval. The manager, Simon Roguet, will not have it on his shelves, because the book was notably presented “sous X” by the publishing house, which means that booksellers have no information, neither on the author, nor on the content of the book before pre-ordering it.
“We didn't know what it was. Afterwards, like everyone else, we learned about it from the press“, he explains. “There were still big suspicions, because we know what is happening in the Hachette group, bought by Bolloré, and Fayard is the publishing house that is most impacted in ethical terms by this takeover.“, continues Simon Roguet.
“Mr Bardella already spreads his ideas enough”
Several employees of the Hachette group have resigned since the arrival of Vincent Bolloré. According to them, the Breton boss plays into the hands of the far right. For this bookseller, Jordan Bardella's work is a new example. “Vincent Bolloré has affirmed his political convictions and clearly, Fayard is becoming one of his showcases“, he laments, recalling that the editor of Eric Zemmour (Reconquête!) was appointed head of Fayard editions last June.
“These parties clearly have racist visions, non-tolerant towards foreigners, migrants, the LGBT community, feminismhe says. Vincent Bolloré has the right to display his ideas, we have the right to respond by not wanting this type of book in our home.” An opinion shared by Valérie, loyal customer of the Laval bookstore. “I think it might be interesting not to spread Mr. Bardella's ideas. He distributes them enough himself, so no need to add more. I bought another book here instead: “How to fight against the ideas of the extreme right?“, she smiles.
Violation of freedom of expression?
The book of the head of the RN list in the last legislative elections will be printed in 150,000 copies, a very high circulation for a political book. If she can't find it in independent bookstores, Nathalie, from Laval, knows she can buy it elsewhere. “It's not up to them to decide, it could be an attack on freedom of expressionshe believes. I think everyone should be free to know whether they want to buy it or not.“
In Mayenne, Olivier Dorgère is the manager of the Marais bookstore. The merchant ordered 15 copies…even if he did not then know who the author was. “I'll probably sell them, it looks like it's going to be a big sale. If I haven't sold everything, I'll put them aside at the back of my store, and I'll bring them out when I'm asked for them.“On the other hand, no bookseller can refuse a sale: if a customer wishes to buy Jordan Bardella's work, the merchant must order it.
