In 1972, we didn’t know about book fairs. And the books at the bookstores did not touch each other. That year, 3,000 second-hand books were offered for the first time to Belfort residents. 1,600 were purchased by the 4,000 visitors.
50 years later, the book is still popular and, despite a drop in sales after Covid, Belfort has an appointment this Thursday, October 10 with the largest book fair in Eastern France. Largest in duration, 24 days, until the end of the All Saints’ Day holidays. Greater in terms of longevity, 50 years just this year. But also by its diversity: the shelves and bins restocked every morning will offer more than 240,000 books, for young and old, all disciplines combined. A very large majority of second-hand books, at very affordable prices (from €0.50), but also new books and gift boxes.
“Let the book become a familiar object”
In 49 years, 8 million pounds have passed through Belfort. More than half, 55%, found a buyer. “The second-hand book can have several lives,” rejoices Pierre Nétange, the founder of this large book market. “He makes several visits to different readers. »
This was precisely his philosophy, since the beginning of the fair: to make reading accessible to as many people as possible, to create “physical contact with the book, so that it becomes a familiar object, in the same way as the spoon and the knife “.
For decades, we have heard that paper no longer has a future, that it will disappear in favor of new technologies and digital technology. For decades, books have been everywhere, exchanged, offered, given away. “The alphabet is thousands of years old,” defends Pierre Nétange. “USB keys and digital media will not necessarily withstand the centuries while the Dead Sea Scrolls are still there. I hope that the book will be saved…”
Book fair, Atria de Belfort, avenue de l’Espérance, from October 10 to November 3, weekdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., weekends and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. Activities and exhibitions.
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