Books know no recession
Wednesday 11 March 2009

French publishing has resisted the financial crisis through diversification and minimal debt. Despite their decreased overall purchasing power, the French still frequent bookstores and consider books their gift of choice.

By Youssef ZERARKA for France 24.

"Culture is what remains when all else is forgotten," said Edouard Herriot, head of the French government during the Great Depression. Indeed, the book sector was not vastly affected by the worldwide market crash of 1929.

The same phenomenon seems to be occurring now. According to the Institute of Marketing Studies (GfK), January 2009 book sales actually increased by 4.3% above the same period last year.

Read the full report at France 24 online.