“A historic year”: in Brive, why the 2024 Book Fair “breaks the record of all records”

They take us on a journey to imaginary lands, make us experience incredible stories, and touch us to the point of laughter and tears. They amaze us, elevate us, make us think and make us better. As the late Bernard Pivot advised so well: “Give Books as a gift, they open like chocolate boxes and close like jewelry boxes”.

The capital of culture

From November 8 to 10, 2024, Brive-la-Gaillarde (Corrèze) was the capital of culture, the epicenter of literature. Because its Book Fair combines conviviality, proximity to authors, an atmosphere that cannot be found anywhere else, with economic success that cannot be denied.

This Sunday, November 10, around 5 p.m., in the aisles of the Brassens hall, fatigue has somewhat replaced the excitement, but a host of beautiful memories have remained well engraved in the heads of the participants, authors and visitors.

A historic year

This year, the Fair brought together the winners of all the major literary prizes: Kamel Daoud (Goncourt prize), Gaël Faye (Renaudot prize), Miguel Bonnefoy (Fémina prize), Abdellah Taïa (December prize, French language prize). The events attracted a larger audience than ever.

Last year, nearly 70,000 books were sold in 30 hours of opening, allowing the Fair to reach a dizzying turnover of 970,000 euros in turnover, 120,000 euros more than in 2022, already a record year.