New record for the Brive Book Fair. The post-school literary event attracted nearly 80,000 visitors this year from November 8 to 10 and generated excellent sales levels according to the GIE of the city’s booksellers, the final figures still awaiting consolidation at the end of the year. Time to wrap up this article. An increase is expected compared to last year, which placed this turnover at 970,000 euros, testifying to the still important aura of the fall literary season, represented this year by Camel Daoud (Goncourt prize), Gail Faye (Renaudot prize) and Abdellah Taïa (December and French Language prize).
Sunday afternoon according to the organizers, Kamel Daoud was with his novel Houris neck and neck with the eternal favorite Christian Signolthe two authors having some 900 sales each.
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Brive also had its own track record. The Fair awarded the French language prize Abdellah Taïa for all of his work; Marion Brunet received the readers’ prize from the city of Brive pour Our weapons (Albin Michel); while the poet Alain Breton was crowned winner of the Grand Prize for Poetry of the Académie Mallarmé for I won’t return the fire (Men without Shoulders).
On the youth side, Amélie Antoine received the Did you read it? – Crédit Agricole Center France in the 12/14 year old category and Elise Fontenaillethat of category 15/17. Great guest of the festival, the youth illustrator Rebecca Dautremer has established itself among the best sellers in this category, with 400 Books sold.
Counter-evening at the Three Provinces
It must be said that in recent years, the renewed interest in children’s literature has been noted in Brive, located in Trois Provinces, at the end of the Promenade verte. The space brings together its authors and publishers, but also comic book and manga houses. This geographical separation from general literature has not always existed, but has not a priori led to public withdrawal. “ When we moved, we were afraid that people wouldn’t follow us, tell Florent Grandineditor at Père Fouettard. But festival-goers are moving around, this space gives them a breather from the outpouring of the literary season. »
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This is also the writer’s opinion. Paul Beaupèrepresent on the Mame editions stand. “ The hierarchy between children’s literature and adult literature has no reason to exist. We make the readers, and the kids don’t cheat. If they don’t like a book, they put it down. » The author takes advantage of Brive to interact more with his publishers, far from the frenzy of everyday life. “ A few years ago, I dedicated a book here to a little girl named Colysne. With my publisher, we said to ourselves that it was a very good heroine’s name, and he ordered me the first volume of Chronicles of Follebreuil. Brive is also this laboratory of ideas. »
At the end of the event, the organizers of this edition “ serious, joyful and modern » expressed their desire to develop the presence of the theater, “ soon fully associated ”, and better “ manage frustrations » for a better reception of the public on November 7, 8 and 9, 2025.
Aspirin sales rise
Finally, the portrait of this 42e edition would not be complete without a word for all the little hands of the festival, volunteers, bus and taxi drivers. Experts behind the scenes, holders of many secrets, each year they take the pulse of the Fair from the sidelines. “ Brive is not just for prize winnersconsiders a taxi driver. All authors can go there and find hope, say to themselves, “next year, maybe it will be for me!” »
Without forgetting the pharmacists, who also confirmed to Weekly Books an increase in their sales of aspirin, but with the delicacy of not communicating their turnover. What happens in Brive… stays in Brive.
