Andrew Franklin: Writing on the wall

By Andrew Franklin -
Published: 19/8/2010- Edinburgh Festival

Despite change, Andrew Franklin believes that books will still have a long shelf life

The book business is on the cusp of the biggest change since Gutenberg invented moveable type. Andrew Franklin assesses the far-reaching implications of the digital revolution

This year's Edinburgh International Book Festival, the mother of literary festivals worldwide, has got off to a tremendous start. Of course Mediterranean blue skies help, but attendance figures are up, book sales are up, and Gordon Brown made an impromptu visit, buying tickets for an event with his children. This year there are 40 festivals in Scotland, and new ones, like the one launched this week at Traquair House, spring up every year.

Basking in the sunshine in Charlotte Square, surrounded by authors, readers and book-buyers, one would think things had never been better for books, but many in the trade are scared of the future and see huge storm clouds gathering. The London Review of Books Event is just one of several forums at this year's Edinburgh Festival where authors, academics, editors and publishers will be debating the future of books - an issue which ought to be close to every reader's heart.

The ecosystem of books is changing rapidly. Literary festivals, children's reading and global literary rates are all rising. But book sales are in trouble and independent bookshops are on the red alert list of endangered species. The recession isn't helping. This year book sales are 6 per cent down on last year, but while this may be painful for publishers' profits and authors' royalties, it is not the worry.
The rest at The Scotsman
 A long and thoughtful piece from one of the UK book publishing industry's major figures.


This ecosystem has more or less muddled along for readers, writers, publishers, libraries and booksellers for 70 years, but now it is facing transformation in the face of technological change. The arrival of e-books and Google may lead to extinctions and the emptying of the literary landscape. Last month, Amazon announced in the US that they are selling 143 e-books for every 100 hardbacks they sell. They think they will soon sell more e-books than paperbacks.